Couple of electrical questions
#1
12-28-15, 08:39 PM
Couple of electrical questions
Hi,
I had a few quick electrical questions that I'm hoping are simple to answer
1. Let's say I want to remove an outlet of light switch. Is the appropriate procedure to just cap the wires off and dry wall over it? Or would I change the gang box to one of those metal ones that has a cover to it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncti...ion_box2.jpg)?
2. When adding a new electrical outlet to an existing run, I believe the best practice is to use two boxes (since there isn't enough slack). One box is obviously the gang box for the outlet...am I safe to assume the other one should be one that can be fully enclosed like the image linked above. Since I'm cutting into drywall, what do I bolt this down to?
3. In the front of my house, I have a pair of pillars that we are refacing which gives me access to the inside of them (and underneath). I'd like to add a couple of post lights to these. Since this is outdoor, do I just bury it with a metal or PVC conduit? Is the romex the same?
Thanks!
I had a few quick electrical questions that I'm hoping are simple to answer
1. Let's say I want to remove an outlet of light switch. Is the appropriate procedure to just cap the wires off and dry wall over it? Or would I change the gang box to one of those metal ones that has a cover to it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncti...ion_box2.jpg)?
2. When adding a new electrical outlet to an existing run, I believe the best practice is to use two boxes (since there isn't enough slack). One box is obviously the gang box for the outlet...am I safe to assume the other one should be one that can be fully enclosed like the image linked above. Since I'm cutting into drywall, what do I bolt this down to?
3. In the front of my house, I have a pair of pillars that we are refacing which gives me access to the inside of them (and underneath). I'd like to add a couple of post lights to these. Since this is outdoor, do I just bury it with a metal or PVC conduit? Is the romex the same?
Thanks!
#2
12-28-15, 08:59 PM
Is the appropriate procedure to just cap the wires off and dry wall over it?
Or would I change the gang box to one of those metal ones that has a cover to it
When adding a new electrical outlet to an existing run, I believe the best practice is to use two boxes (since there isn't enough slack). One box is obviously the gang box for the outlet...am I safe to assume the other one should be one that can be fully enclosed like the image linked above. Since I'm cutting into drywall, what do I bolt this down to?
I'd suggest you bur a book such as Wiring Simplified available in book stores and on line at Amazon.
Source: /homerepair.about.com
I'd like to add a couple of post lights to these. Since this is outdoor, do I just bury it with a metal or PVC conduit?
Is the romex the same?
Last edited by ray2047; 12-28-15 at 09:17 PM.
#3
12-28-15, 09:34 PM
Thanks for the prompt response!
Hmm...so how do I go about removing a light switch? If I kill the wire in the attic and enclose it in a box, then is it ok to dry wall over it?
In this specific case, I know there is a wire running through the wall, but the closest outlets are on adjacent walls, and I imagine drilling through the 2x4s will be more challenging than just splicing the wire and adding a new outlet. So that's why I was planning on adding two boxes (since there won't be enough slack to use just one box).
As for running conduit, sorry for not being very clear. I have an exterior wall in front of my house that creates a small courtyard. One side of that wall butts up agains the garage where I was planning on tying into the exterior lights. The challenge is getting the line to the second pillar since there is a short walkway between the two. All of my googling suggests that I should run a conduit underneath the walkway and run the romex within it. I just wanted to sanity check that on this forum. If it's still a little fuzzy, I can try and take a picture of it.
Never. All boxes with live wires must remain accessible.
The link is a very poor example to use for any kind of wiring. You would only need to install a box for the new receptacle. You would use an old work box. You would run cable from the existing box to the new box.
As for running conduit, sorry for not being very clear. I have an exterior wall in front of my house that creates a small courtyard. One side of that wall butts up agains the garage where I was planning on tying into the exterior lights. The challenge is getting the line to the second pillar since there is a short walkway between the two. All of my googling suggests that I should run a conduit underneath the walkway and run the romex within it. I just wanted to sanity check that on this forum. If it's still a little fuzzy, I can try and take a picture of it.
#4
12-28-15, 10:28 PM
Hmm...so how do I go about removing a light switch? If I kill the wire in the attic and enclose it in a box, then is it ok to dry wall over it?
In this specific case, I know there is a wire running through the wall, but the closest outlets are on adjacent walls, and I imagine drilling through the 2x4s will be more challenging than just splicing the wire and adding a new outlet.
All of my googling suggests that I should run a conduit underneath the walkway and run the romex within it.
*Applies to a 20 amp or less 120 volt circuit.
Last edited by pcboss; 12-29-15 at 12:24 PM.
#5
12-29-15, 11:44 AM
Basic answer is you disconnect the cable on both ends, cut it to short to be reconnected and thus abandon the cable in place. However local code may require either a switched light or receptacle in each room so it would be a code violation.
Then all of your googling was wrong. Buried conduit is a wet location. Assuming "Romex" means NM-b cable it is for dry locations only. You could use UF-b in conduit but individual conductors are easier to pull. The conduit would need to be buried 18" (or 12" if on a GFCI breaker*). If UF-b is buried without conduit it needs to be buried 24" (or 12" on a GFCI breaker*).
#8
12-29-15, 01:02 PM
does it make a different whether to use PVC or metal?
