Snake wire from wall to ceiling

Posted by blueman on October 14, 2009, 10:21 am

I need to run a wire from a switch on the wall up the wall and across
the ceiling to a new overhead light. (Note that unfortunately, the
joists run perpendicular to the direction that I need to traverse the ceiling)

Doing so presents the following two problems for me:
1. How do I make the right angle turn through the top plate and into
the ceiling joist bay?

2. How do I go through the joists as I traverse the ceiling from the
wall edge to the center light location?

Note I don't have the option of using an unfinished attic or basement
to help me. I am trying to avoid ripping up more plaster than I need to.

I plan on buying a long flexible 1/2" bit which I believe should at
least help me with #2, though I'm a bit short on the details of where
I drill the entry and exit holes and how I achieve the right bend and
angle to go through the middle of the joist.

However, I am a lot more stumped about how I make the right angle
transition from the wall bay into the ceiling joist bay.

Could anybody give me some detailed pointers and/or point me to any
online videos? (I tried googling but found only general suggestions
such as using a flex bit)

Thanks

Posted by dpb on October 14, 2009, 10:31 am

blueman wrote:

> I need to run a wire from a switch on the wall up the wall and across
> the ceiling to a new overhead light. (Note that unfortunately, the
> joists run perpendicular to the direction that I need to traverse the ceiling)

...

> Could anybody give me some detailed pointers ...

You may as well just cut an access strip 8-12" wide from the light
location to the wall to start and be done with it. It'll be simpler to
repair that uniform area w/ a couple of joints than having to patch a
zillion smaller holes. Once you've gotten access, getting around the
corner will be relatively simple.

Alternatively, use a surface-mount track or embed a track raceway just
below the depth of the surface and finish over it. If it's metal
raceway it'll be ok to hide it.

Alternative two if there's any access to alternate wall and around,
sometimes one can go the long way 'round lengthwise w/ the joists and
find another way that there is access to get to the switch wall location
rather than the direct route. That, of course, depends on the layout
details not observable from here.

--

Posted by blueman on October 14, 2009, 11:06 am

> blueman wrote:

>> I need to run a wire from a switch on the wall up the wall and across
>> the ceiling to a new overhead light. (Note that unfortunately, the
>> joists run perpendicular to the direction that I need to traverse the ceiling)

> ...

>> Could anybody give me some detailed pointers ...

> You may as well just cut an access strip 8-12" wide from the light
> location to the wall to start and be done with it. It'll be simpler
> to repair that uniform area w/ a couple of joints than having to patch
> a zillion smaller holes. Once you've gotten access, getting around
> the corner will be relatively simple.

Removing the access strip will be a PITA since the wall is
plaster/stucco over metal lathe (the wall is in a garage). Also, I
probably only need to bridge 2 or 3 joists so I was thinking that with
a flex bit I should only need a couple of holes.

The challenge that I worry about though is at the corner between wall
and celing since the joists are parallel to the wall so presumably
there is a joist sitting on top of the top plate.

I read somewhere that you can "notch" out a small area of the top
plate bridging the wall with the ceiling and run the wire across it. I
presume that you would need to cover the notch with a metal plate to
be safe (and code conformant).

Is this the best way or is there some way to drill a "diagonal" hole

> Alternatively, use a surface-mount track or embed a track raceway just
> below the depth of the surface and finish over it. If it's metal
> raceway it'll be ok to hide it.

I would prefer to avoid conduit or track.

> Alternative two if there's any access to alternate wall and around,
> sometimes one can go the long way 'round lengthwise w/ the joists and
> find another way that there is access to get to the switch wall
> location rather than the direct route. That, of course, depends on
> the layout details not observable from here.

The only other walls are exterior (it is a garage) which creates other
issues (e.g., insulation) plus it is truly a long way around.

Posted by RicodJour on October 14, 2009, 11:17 am

> > blueman wrote:

> >> I need to run a wire from a switch on the wall up the wall and across
> >> the ceiling to a new overhead light. (Note that unfortunately, the
> >> joists run perpendicular to the direction that I need to traverse the =

ceiling)

> > ...

> >> Could anybody give me some detailed pointers ...

> > You may as well just cut an access strip 8-12" wide from the light
> > location to the wall to start and be done with it. =A0It'll be simpler
> > to repair that uniform area w/ a couple of joints than having to patch
> > a zillion smaller holes. =A0Once you've gotten access, getting around
> > the corner will be relatively simple.

> Removing the access strip will be a PITA since the wall is
> plaster/stucco over metal lathe (the wall is in a garage). Also, I
> probably only need to bridge 2 or 3 joists so I was thinking that with
> a flex bit I should only need a couple of holes.
> The challenge that I worry about though is at the corner between wall
> and celing since the joists are parallel to the wall so presumably
> there is a joist sitting on top of the top plate.
> I read somewhere that you can "notch" out a small area of the top
> plate bridging the wall with the ceiling and run the wire across it. I
> presume that you would need to cover the notch with a metal plate to
> be safe (and code conformant).
> Is this the best way or is there some way to drill a "diagonal" hole

> > Alternatively, use a surface-mount track or embed a track raceway just
> > below the depth of the surface and finish over it. =A0If it's metal
> > raceway it'll be ok to hide it.

> I would prefer to avoid conduit or track.

> > Alternative two if there's any access to alternate wall and around,
> > sometimes one can go the long way 'round lengthwise w/ the joists and
> > find another way that there is access to get to the switch wall
> > location rather than the direct route. =A0That, of course, depends on
> > the layout details not observable from here.

> The only other walls are exterior (it is a garage) which creates other
> issues (e.g., insulation) plus it is truly a long way around.

How about a wireless switch?

R

Posted by blueman on October 14, 2009, 12:20 pm

>> > blueman wrote:
>> >> I need to run a wire from a switch on the wall up the wall and across
>> >> the ceiling to a new overhead light. (Note that unfortunately, the
>> >> joists run perpendicular to the direction that I need to traverse the

ceiling)

>> > ...
>> >> Could anybody give me some detailed pointers ...
>> > You may as well just cut an access strip 8-12" wide from the light
>> > location to the wall to start and be done with it. It'll be simpler
>> > to repair that uniform area w/ a couple of joints than having to patch
>> > a zillion smaller holes. Once you've gotten access, getting around
>> > the corner will be relatively simple.

>> Removing the access strip will be a PITA since the wall is
>> plaster/stucco over metal lathe (the wall is in a garage). Also, I
>> probably only need to bridge 2 or 3 joists so I was thinking that with
>> a flex bit I should only need a couple of holes.
>> The challenge that I worry about though is at the corner between wall
>> and celing since the joists are parallel to the wall so presumably
>> there is a joist sitting on top of the top plate.
>> I read somewhere that you can "notch" out a small area of the top
>> plate bridging the wall with the ceiling and run the wire across it. I
>> presume that you would need to cover the notch with a metal plate to
>> be safe (and code conformant).
>> Is this the best way or is there some way to drill a "diagonal" hole

>> > Alternatively, use a surface-mount track or embed a track raceway just
>> > below the depth of the surface and finish over it. If it's metal
>> > raceway it'll be ok to hide it.

>> I would prefer to avoid conduit or track.

>> > Alternative two if there's any access to alternate wall and around,
>> > sometimes one can go the long way 'round lengthwise w/ the joists and
>> > find another way that there is access to get to the switch wall
>> > location rather than the direct route. That, of course, depends on
>> > the layout details not observable from here.

>> The only other walls are exterior (it is a garage) which creates other
>> issues (e.g., insulation) plus it is truly a long way around.

> How about a wireless switch?

Well the issue is more getting power to the light which I would need
to do regardless. The switch is already there by the source of power.
I just need to get power to the center of the ceiling to replace an
old wall mounted sconce which is in the way and dangerous since it
always gets hit by all the stuff moving in and out of the garage.

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