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Rewiring and junction boxes jimbob 10-13-2006
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Posted by jimbob on October 13, 2006, 9:16 pm


I have been rewiring a dining room in a 1930's home. In new
construction outlets are linked together by wires running horizontally
through the studs. I haven't been able to find any guidelines for how
to run wires when rewiring. The most logical way seems to be running
wire through floor joists underneath the room in the unfinished
basement. I have a couple of choices. I can run wire from outlet to
outlet, passing the wire under the floor, or I can wire to junction
boxes under each outelt with a wire extending to each outlet. The
latter would allow me to use less wire and fewer holes through the
joists. The first way would mean that I would use fewer junction
boxes. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to either way? Anyone
know of any guidlines for rewiring? Most of the info I have found is
on wiring new construction.

Thanks


Posted by Chris Lewis on October 13, 2006, 10:11 pm


> I have been rewiring a dining room in a 1930's home. In new
> construction outlets are linked together by wires running horizontally
> through the studs. I haven't been able to find any guidelines for how
> to run wires when rewiring. The most logical way seems to be running
> wire through floor joists underneath the room in the unfinished
> basement. I have a couple of choices. I can run wire from outlet to
> outlet, passing the wire under the floor, or I can wire to junction
> boxes under each outelt with a wire extending to each outlet. The
> latter would allow me to use less wire and fewer holes through the
> joists. The first way would mean that I would use fewer junction
> boxes. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to either way? Anyone
> know of any guidlines for rewiring? Most of the info I have found is
> on wiring new construction.

I've done the j-box approach myself. The feeds to each outlet
box were AC armor, because it was thru a wall that was just
lathe over masonry. Saved a fair bit in armor cable costs.

Inspectors don't like seeing lots of unnecessary J boxes. J boxes
also may present some difficulties if you want to finish the basement.

An inspector probably wouldn't mind this.

However, for a single room you're unlikely to save enough money
to notice. Indeed, the jbox approach may be more expensive.
But quicker.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Posted by Tim Fischer on October 14, 2006, 12:27 am


>or I can wire to junction
> boxes under each outelt with a wire extending to each outlet. The
> latter would allow me to use less wire and fewer holes through the
> joists.

I don't understand the "fewer holes through the joists" point. From the
first outlet, you'd run a wire down through the floor, through any necessary
joists, to a point below the second outlet, where it would go up. You'd run
a 2nd wire from that outlet back down, through any necessary joists (which
shouldn't be the same ones as before) to the 3rd outlet, etc. The only
"extra wire" is the doubled run between the floor joists and the outlet -- a
few feet at most, which is insignficant in cost compared to junction boxes,
covers, and wire nuts you'd need for the other approach. I also think this
would be less labor intensive than the J-box approach, and more reliable
(less connections = better).

-Tim



Posted by Steve Barker LT on October 14, 2006, 6:14 pm


#1. It's the same amount of connections if you pigtail the outlet like you
should.
#2. It makes the work at the outlet a lot easier especially if you're using
12ga wire like you should be.

I say go with the J-Boxes.

--
Steve Barker


>>or I can wire to junction
>> boxes under each outelt with a wire extending to each outlet. The
>> latter would allow me to use less wire and fewer holes through the
>> joists.
>
> I don't understand the "fewer holes through the joists" point. From the
> first outlet, you'd run a wire down through the floor, through any
> necessary joists, to a point below the second outlet, where it would go
> up. You'd run a 2nd wire from that outlet back down, through any
> necessary joists (which shouldn't be the same ones as before) to the 3rd
> outlet, etc. The only "extra wire" is the doubled run between the floor
> joists and the outlet -- a few feet at most, which is insignficant in cost
> compared to junction boxes, covers, and wire nuts you'd need for the other
> approach. I also think this would be less labor intensive than the J-box
> approach, and more reliable (less connections = better).
>
> -Tim
>



Posted by Tim Fischer on October 14, 2006, 7:54 pm



> #1. It's the same amount of connections if you pigtail the outlet like
> you should.
> #2. It makes the work at the outlet a lot easier especially if you're
> using 12ga wire like you should be.

I work with #12 almost exclusively -- it's not hard to use with the outlet
boxes. I personaly don't see anything wrong with 'daisy chaining' using the
outlet's screws -- frankly I think a screw connection is probably more
reliable than a wire nut. But I realize not everyone thinks this way...

-Tim



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