Adding an outlet in the middle of an existing circuit?

Posted by Toller on January 9, 2006, 10:35 am

I want to put up a new fluorescent fixture in my basement. Right where I
would put a box for an outlet, there is a cable for an appropriate circuit.

The circuit was put in pretty sloppily, so I was able to get 4" of slack
right where the new box would go. Is that likely to be enough wire to add
an outlet? Seems adequate, but I don't want to cut it up and find I needed
5".

If it turns out not to be enough, I would have to either put in a junction
box to add some wire, or pull out the last 10' of cable and replace it with
an 11' cable. That would be a lot of work since it all passes through floor
joists, but it would save a junction box. Is it worth it?

Posted by Jeff Wisnia on January 9, 2006, 11:01 am

Toller wrote:

> I want to put up a new fluorescent fixture in my basement. Right where I
> would put a box for an outlet, there is a cable for an appropriate circuit.
>
> The circuit was put in pretty sloppily, so I was able to get 4" of slack
> right where the new box would go. Is that likely to be enough wire to add
> an outlet? Seems adequate, but I don't want to cut it up and find I needed
> 5".
>
> If it turns out not to be enough, I would have to either put in a junction
> box to add some wire, or pull out the last 10' of cable and replace it with
> an 11' cable. That would be a lot of work since it all passes through floor
> joists, but it would save a junction box. Is it worth it?
>
>

Given that the box you're adding will be 3-1/2 or 4 inches "wide" where
you insert it into the run, that 4 inches of slack should let all the
wires project about 4 inches into the box.

That should be plenty to let you pigtail on short lengths of wire
(including the ground conductor) and connect those to the new outlet's
terminals.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Posted by chocolatemalt on January 9, 2006, 12:36 pm

> Toller wrote:
>

> > I want to put up a new fluorescent fixture in my basement. Right where I
> > would put a box for an outlet, there is a cable for an appropriate circuit.
> >
> > The circuit was put in pretty sloppily, so I was able to get 4" of slack
> > right where the new box would go. Is that likely to be enough wire to add
> > an outlet? Seems adequate, but I don't want to cut it up and find I needed
> > 5".
> >
> > If it turns out not to be enough, I would have to either put in a junction
> > box to add some wire, or pull out the last 10' of cable and replace it with
> > an 11' cable. That would be a lot of work since it all passes through
> > floor
> > joists, but it would save a junction box. Is it worth it?
> >
> >

>
> Given that the box you're adding will be 3-1/2 or 4 inches "wide" where
> you insert it into the run, that 4 inches of slack should let all the
> wires project about 4 inches into the box.
>
> That should be plenty to let you pigtail on short lengths of wire
> (including the ground conductor) and connect those to the new outlet's
> terminals.

But below Code, apparently... 300.14 (2005 NEC) requires 6" as the
minimum for conductor slack in a box. Do the inspectors tend to enforce
this rule, or is it squishy?

On the other hand, I read somewhere that inspectors disapprove of
"excessive" junction boxes. That seems strange to me, since extra boxes
would in some cases allow other parts of the Code to be met (like in
Toller's case) and provide more flexibility for repairs, future
expansion, etc.

Posted by Tom Horne, Electrician on January 9, 2006, 12:45 pm

Toller wrote:

Pull out that last eleven feet. You will need at least a foot of slack
to install a code compliant outlet box. I think that avoiding extra J
boxes is always a good thing but that is a personal preference.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

Posted by Toller on January 9, 2006, 5:58 pm

> Toller wrote:

>> I want to put up a new fluorescent fixture in my basement. Right where I
>> would put a box for an outlet, there is a cable for an appropriate
>> circuit.
>> The circuit was put in pretty sloppily, so I was able to get 4" of slack
>> right where the new box would go. Is that likely to be enough wire to
>> add an outlet? Seems adequate, but I don't want to cut it up and find I
>> needed 5".
>> If it turns out not to be enough, I would have to either put in a
>> junction box to add some wire, or pull out the last 10' of cable and
>> replace it with an 11' cable. That would be a lot of work since it all
>> passes through floor joists, but it would save a junction box. Is it
>> worth it?

> Pull out that last eleven feet. You will need at least a foot of slack to
> install a code compliant outlet box. I think that avoiding extra J boxes
> is always a good thing but that is a personal preference.
> --

Obviously there should be more material than the 4" I have (someone above
thought it was 6") to make it easier to work with, but as long as I have
nice secure connections, is there a safety reason for the 6"?

Sometimes code has a safety reason that I wouldn't have thought of, but
other times it is just convenience like the number of outlets in a room.

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