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How to drop wire from attic into old work box
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Install old work box
How to drop wire from attic into old work box |
| Wire size | |
| Use only 600 volt wire. Lamp cord, extension cords are not rated 600 volt. Use copper wire only. Aluminum wire is fire risk and should be avoided or installed by professional. 30 amp breaker use 10 gauge / 120-240 volt 30 amp outlet can be installed on 30 amp breaker only/ use 10 gauge wire ... cannot be connected to 15-20-40 amp breaker.  Orange/ #10 gauge wire, with ground ... 30 amp capacity. Safe maximum: 30 x 80% = 24 amps. Buy: 10-2 gauge/ 30 amp 10-3/ 30 amp Southwire electric tools |
Yellow
12 gauge 20 amp 120 volt 20 amp outlet can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker/ use 12 ga wire. ... cannot be connected to 30-40 amp breaker. 1  Yellow/ #12 gauge wire, with ground ... 20 amp capacity. Safe maximum 16 amps. Buy: 12-2 gauge/ 20 amp 12-3/ 20 amp NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
| 50-60
amp breaker use 6 gauge / 240 volt 50 outlet can be installed on 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 6-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
40-50
amp breaker use 8 gauge / 240 volt 40 amp outlet can be installed on 40 or 50 amp breaker only  Buy: 8-2 wire Southwire electric tools NMB is house wiring UF is underground |
 Protect wiring from damage Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. -Code says: Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX Telephone cable knife Low Voltage Mounting Bracket for Telephone |
 Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line |
 Safety when testing wires: Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 GFCI circuit breaker A GFCI circuit breaker will protect all boxes on circuit. Circuit must be grounded. Ground wire must be continuous and connected to each piece of equipment. White wire on circuit breaker must be connected to Neutral busbar inside the breaker panel. Buy GFCI circuit breakers |
Push down
 1" wide Push down breaker Buy single-pole: Choose from 15 to 60 amp Eaton CL series Siemens 15-60 amp Tandem breakers 2" wide Push down breaker Buy double-pole: Choose from 15 to 125 amp Choose from 15 amp to 200 amp Siemens circuit breaker Double pole GFCI |
 Household NM-B Wires are color-coded so inspectors/ electricians can easily identify which wire is used during construction |
Match
wire size and breaker amp rating If your home was wired by professional electrician who pulled permits, then circuit breaker and wire size will match. If manufactured home or travel trailer has not been altered by homeowner then breaker and wire size will match. If breaker is oversized for wire... fire danger Breaker can let too much amperage travel through the wire. Wire can overheat and cause fire. Use 600 volt solid copper wire only Do not use stranded wire inside main breaker box or any permanent box. Stranded wire can be used for extension cord connectors and plugs. Do not use extension cord for permanent household wiring Extension cords are used for connectors and plugs only. Read more about uses for extension cords Buy: Southwire at Amazon |
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Old
work box is installed in hollow part of wall Can be installed on any interior wall Do not locate where pipes, other wires, or pocket doors are present. Wire is dropped into wall, and then hole is cut for box. Do not cut hole for box before dropping wire. Buy: Old work box at Amazon Resource: Wire and breaker size |
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imageInstructions: Drop wire from attic before cutting hole for box. Once wire is dropped down inside wall, have helper rattle wire around. Noise from wire will confirm location to cut hole. Helper pulls wire up out of way so saw will not cut wire. Cut 2-1/4" x 3-3/4" hole in sheetrock using knife or saw Reach in and find electric wire inside wall Pull electric wire through hole Feed wire into box Set box into hole Turn screws so pop-up fin tightens against inside of sheetrock Install switch. Note: Water Heater Timer requires only one box and one wire. |
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Instructions for locating where
to drop wire:1.Before going in attic, choose wall for switch 2. Avoid walls with pocket door or plumbing pipes or exterior walls with insulation 3. Go in attic and estimate location of wall Wear protective mask around insulation 4. Pull back insulation & find top plate as shown. 5. Each interior wall will have double 2x4 top plate that will be visible when insulation pulled back. 6. Have helper tap on wall from below 7. Note location of other wires. Do not use drill next to other wires or damage to wire can occur accidently. |
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 If
another wire already drops through top plate where you want your
wire, see if your wire will push through same hole. If you have to drill, move over several inches from other wires so drill won't contact wires. When drilling through top plate 3 things may occur: 1.) You may hit a nail > drill another hole 2.) You may hit top of upright 2x4 > drill another hole 3.) You may drill into the wrong cavity > that's why you drill through top plate before cutting hole in sheetrock Tip: after drilling hole in top plate - and - before cutting hole in sheetrock, drop your wire into wall and have helper rattle it around to make sure you're in the right spot. Put timer at eye-level so it's easy to program. |
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Cut-away
view of
residential wall 1) Drop wire through top plate. 2) Have helper rattle wire inside wall 3) Noise from rattling wire will identify where to cut hole for box 4) Try to identify mid-way between studs so blade will not cut existing wires. 5) Existing wires will be stapled onto 2x4's Do not cut wire accidently |
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Other
wires can
be inside same wall 1) By code, other wires are stapled to 2x4's 2) However, not every home has code wiring 3) Existing switches and outlet boxes will be attached to 2x4 4) Wires also run horizontal through walls 5) Horizontal wires usually located below level of outlet box ... BUT can be anywhere inside a non-code structure Be careful When cutting through wall to install old work box: Do not put blade far inside wall where it can hit other wires and possible pipes Use a utility knife to cut hole Cut hole slowly Locate old work box in center between 2x4s Buy deep scan stud finder: Deep scan stud finders at Amazon |
 Basic 120Volt wiring inside wall Larger image |
Other
wires can
be inside same wall Be careful when cutting through sheetrock to install old work box Do not push blade too deep past sheetrock Buy deep scan stud finder: Deep scan stud and electrical and metal finders at Amazon Resource: How to wire switches Basic house wiring |
 Strip
back sheathing on cable.Code requires about 1" sheathing inside the box. Give yourself plenty of wire to work with inside box. Strip back insulation on each black and white wire about 7/8", being careful not to score or cut the copper, which can cause weak point and extra heat on circuit. If you have 20 amp breaker and #12 wire, you can use either 15 or 20 amp outlet or switch. If you have 15 amp breaker and #14 wire, you can use 15 amp outlet or switch, but not 20 amp. 30 amp outlets require 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire.  When connecting switch or outlet, use needle nose to make hook shape on wires, then hook the wire onto screw going right-to-left, so wire tightens when screw is tightened.  If attaching a timer with stranded wire, then strip back stranded about 1-1/2" and wrap the stranded wire clockwise around solid copper wire. Always apply twist on wire connector very tight, so it will not pull off, and so no copper shows. |
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GE 15070 timer to
control water
heater. Image shows timer mounted on wall below attic light switch. Timer is same size as typical light switch. Eye-level installation: easy to change times, set override, reset current time after power outage, seasonal time-change, and manually turn water heater ON-and-OFF. Set timer 30-minute timer intervals: Summertime 15-30 minutes for shower, wintertime 30-45 minutes for shower. Resources See timer installation Family chart for setting timer Compare all timers |
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 Indoor steel Outdoor aluminum Decorative indoor plastic Buy: Raco steel extension ring Outdoor extension ring PVC extension ring Outdoor surface mount outdoor box single gang extension ring |
Add
surface-mount box or extension ring to in-wall box Apply over top of any wall box Run surface conduit to any other electrical device |
Junction
boxesBuy Bud Industries boxes at Amazon Boxes from Attabox Hammond project boxes Resources More enclosures |
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See inside main breaker box |
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What is 3-phase electric: power plant to end
user
How to wire 3-phase timer |
 120 volt 15 amp devices
including GFCI, timers, switches, plugs, wifi controls etc can be
installed on 15 or 20
amp
breaker.120 volt GFCI, outlet, receptacle that is rated 20 amp can be installed on 20 amp breaker only, but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI  |
 Use outlet tester to check for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder |
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Buy
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