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How to drop wire from attic into old work box

Install wire to 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
6-2 wire
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
6-2 wire
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
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End cutting nippers at Amazon
Southwire armored cable cutter
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.

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KLEIN TOOLS
Tools kits
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KNIPEX

Telephone cable knife
Low Voltage Mounting Bracket for Telephone

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
single-pole breaker  double-pole breaker

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

old work box
Larger image

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
install 2 old work boxesLarger image
Instructions:
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.
attic wiring 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.
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.
drop wire from attic 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
drop wire from attic 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 finder

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 finder

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.
Twisted wire
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.
Water heater timer
Larger image
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
Install Box support
surface-mount extension ring
      Indoor steel                  Outdoor aluminum                     Decorative indoor plastic box
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 boxes
Buy
Bud Industries boxes at Amazon
Boxes from Attabox
Hammond project boxes
Resources
More enclosures

main breaker box
Larger image
See inside main breaker box
Electricity leaves power plant What is 3-phase electric: power plant to end user

How to wire 3-phase timer




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