Ok,

Question #1

Here's the deal. I started a few months ago. I Dryloced, Framed and did the rough electric. All approved by inspectors. I meant to ask them but forgot. Question- Do I insulate in front of the wire that I ran through the studs (covering the wire) or do I dip the insulation behind the wire to keep it exposed. Might be a silly question but I want to do it right.

Question #2

I have to change one thing about my electric, I have to run the wires throught the joists. What is the proper place to drill? In English- I read in the book the "center 1/3 of the joist. What does that mean?

 

Sounds like you ran the wire horizontally between the studs halfway between the front and back of the studs. You don't want to compress the insulation because it doesn't work as well. What I've seen insulators do after I'm done is to split the insulation so it goes around both sides of the wire.

What 1/3 means is:

if the joist is 12 feet long drill in the middle 4 feet and if your using romex keep the hole in the center of the depth of the joist

 

Usually they put in insualtion behind the wire, so if they ever need to get to the wire it is easy to do. However, there have been alot of times where the insulation is in front of the wire. Mike is correct as to where the middle 1/3 of the joist is. Now, caution needs to be taken here. Check your your building department, before drilling into your joists. Many parts of the country will not allow electrical drilled through the joists anymore. Good Luck

 

Absolutely do not drill in the middle third of the span. This is exactly where you should not drill -- that's where you would weaken the joist the most. Drill as close to one of the supported ends as feasible.

The middle third refers to the vertical middle third. Ideally, you'd drill exactly in the middle of the joist, top to bottom. So if, e.g., you had 2x10 joists that are 9-1/4" wide, drill the hole exactly 4-5/8" from each edge. And don't drill the hole any larger than necessary (but don't drill it so small that you have to cram the cable in -- the cable should fit comfortably; a 5/8" hole works fine for 12/2 cable).

I've never heard of anywhere that does not allow you to drill a joist for an electrical wire, but check as Jack says and let us know. In many situations, there is no reasonable alternative but to drill the joist (especially between the first and second floors).

You might consider asking such questions in the electrical forum. There are a lot of professional electricians there.

If you are using fiberglass batt insulation, I suggest you carefully slit the insulation half-way through where the wire is. This way, the insulation is neither in front nor behind the wire, and you have not compressed the insulation.

 

I've always firgured my 7/8 hole doesn't weaken the joist when the plumber bores a 2-1/2" hole for his drains.....one 7/8 Bored hole does not weaken the joist, It's notching a joist at the bottom in the middle third that severly weakens a joist

 

I got it- Thanks for your help.