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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > July 2005 > Do Your Own Electrical Wiring
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Do Your Own Electrical Wiring
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| I've always felt comfortable with carpentry and modest levels of plumbing,
but electrical work always seemed beyond my abilities. Over the past year,
I have bought books, tools, wire, wire nuts, drill bits, circuit testers,
etc. and have been rewiring parts of my 1960's era ranch house. I am amazed
at how easy it really is. I hired professionals to upgrade my main service
box and install a subpanel (and I watched what they did), but the wiring to
each room and outlet is being replaced by me and my 'hole hawg'. I have
removed the drywall from the ceiling of my basement, so the projects are
much easier. I will replace it with a drop ceiling so that I will always
have good access to the wires and plumbing.
A healthy respect for the deadly power in the wires is a good thing to keep.
Having the subpanel is great because I can remove power from the entire box
with the flick of a switch, before I do any work. That would require
removing the electric meter to do that in the main box. With each new
circuit, the last thing I do is to connect it to the power box in the
basement, so the majority of my work is quite danger-free.
Bottom line... don't be afraid to do your own electrical wiring. It is
often easy and safe and you end up with good quality, reliable circuits that
you are familiar with. Try it. After the first circuit is done, you won't
pay dearly for electical work again.
^ ^
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| Joseph Meehan 2005-07-13, 6:26 pm |
| Tank wrote:
quote:
> I've always felt comfortable with carpentry and modest levels of
> plumbing, but electrical work always seemed beyond my abilities. Over the
> past year, I have bought books, tools, wire, wire nuts,
> drill bits, circuit testers, etc. and have been rewiring parts of my
> 1960's era ranch house. I am amazed at how easy it really is. I
> hired professionals to upgrade my main service box and install a
> subpanel (and I watched what they did), but the wiring to each room
> and outlet is being replaced by me and my 'hole hawg'. I have
> removed the drywall from the ceiling of my basement, so the projects
> are much easier. I will replace it with a drop ceiling so that I
> will always have good access to the wires and plumbing.
> A healthy respect for the deadly power in the wires is a good thing
> to keep. Having the subpanel is great because I can remove power from
> the entire box with the flick of a switch, before I do any work. That
> would require removing the electric meter to do that in the main
> box. With each new circuit, the last thing I do is to connect it to
> the power box in the basement, so the majority of my work is quite
> danger-free.
> Bottom line... don't be afraid to do your own electrical wiring. It
> is often easy and safe and you end up with good quality, reliable
> circuits that you are familiar with. Try it. After the first circuit
> is done, you won't pay dearly for electical work again.
>
> ^ ^
As long as you have done your homework and you are careful and you stop
whenever you have a question and are not sure of the answer, I believe most
people can do a lot of their own electrical work.
Of course if you feel those codes don't apply to you, then don't try.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia duit
| |
| Tim Fischer 2005-07-13, 6:26 pm |
|
"Joseph Meehan" <sligojoe_Spamno@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42dBe.18433$zY4.15272@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
quote:
> As long as you have done your homework and you are careful and you
stop
quote:
> whenever you have a question and are not sure of the answer, I believe
most
quote:
> people can do a lot of their own electrical work.
>
> Of course if you feel those codes don't apply to you, then don't try.
Exactly. I'll add to that, assume there's code for EVERYTHING including
things you might not consider, like staple spacing in a romex run, etc.
Always do things to code -- it's there for your safety. Just because it
SEEMS like it will work (but violates code) is not a good reason to do it.
-Tim
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| Percival P. Cassidy 2005-07-14, 4:25 am |
| I've done my own wiring too, and according to the Code as far as I
understand it.
The trouble is that the Code is so complicated that people can charge
big buck$$$$ for seminars that explain it to the people who have to
follow it -- and especially after each new triennial revision.
Much esoteric stuff concerning the Code can be learned from Mike Holt's
Code Forum at http://www.mikeholt.com/cgi-bin/cod.../ultimatebb.cgi
-- but don't dare ask a question, because they deign not to converse
with mere mortals (such as homeowners) but only with "professionals"
(such as electricians and inspectors).
Perce
On 07/13/05 12:24 pm Tank tossed the following ingredients into the
ever-growing pot of cybersoup:
quote:
> I've always felt comfortable with carpentry and modest levels of plumbing,
> but electrical work always seemed beyond my abilities. Over the past year,
> I have bought books, tools, wire, wire nuts, drill bits, circuit testers,
> etc. and have been rewiring parts of my 1960's era ranch house. I am amazed
> at how easy it really is. I hired professionals to upgrade my main service
> box and install a subpanel (and I watched what they did), but the wiring to
> each room and outlet is being replaced by me and my 'hole hawg'. I have
> removed the drywall from the ceiling of my basement, so the projects are
> much easier. I will replace it with a drop ceiling so that I will always
> have good access to the wires and plumbing.
>
> A healthy respect for the deadly power in the wires is a good thing to keep.
> Having the subpanel is great because I can remove power from the entire box
> with the flick of a switch, before I do any work. That would require
> removing the electric meter to do that in the main box. With each new
> circuit, the last thing I do is to connect it to the power box in the
> basement, so the majority of my work is quite danger-free.
>
> Bottom line... don't be afraid to do your own electrical wiring. It is
> often easy and safe and you end up with good quality, reliable circuits that
> you are familiar with. Try it. After the first circuit is done, you won't
> pay dearly for electical work again.
| |
| CL (dnoyeB) Gilbert 2005-07-15, 4:25 am |
| Tank wrote:
quote:
> I've always felt comfortable with carpentry and modest levels of plumbing,
> but electrical work always seemed beyond my abilities. Over the past year,
> I have bought books, tools, wire, wire nuts, drill bits, circuit testers,
> etc. and have been rewiring parts of my 1960's era ranch house. I am amazed
> at how easy it really is. I hired professionals to upgrade my main service
> box and install a subpanel (and I watched what they did), but the wiring to
> each room and outlet is being replaced by me and my 'hole hawg'. I have
> removed the drywall from the ceiling of my basement, so the projects are
> much easier. I will replace it with a drop ceiling so that I will always
> have good access to the wires and plumbing.
>
> A healthy respect for the deadly power in the wires is a good thing to keep.
> Having the subpanel is great because I can remove power from the entire box
> with the flick of a switch, before I do any work. That would require
> removing the electric meter to do that in the main box. With each new
> circuit, the last thing I do is to connect it to the power box in the
> basement, so the majority of my work is quite danger-free.
>
> Bottom line... don't be afraid to do your own electrical wiring. It is
> often easy and safe and you end up with good quality, reliable circuits that
> you are familiar with. Try it. After the first circuit is done, you won't
> pay dearly for electical work again.
>
> ^ ^
>
>
First call me. We can make an appointment with a life insurance dealer ;)
This kind of stuff should be learned by reading and watching. If you
got no one there to give you tips, you will learn the hard way, and
sometimes there is no 2nd chance.
And yes, be afraid. You can do anything if you have the right teacher.
--
Respectfully,
CL Gilbert
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| TPutmann@AmericaOffline.com 2005-07-15, 12:25 pm |
| On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:27:12 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
<sligojoe_Spamno@hotmail.com> wrote:
quote:
>Tank wrote:
>
> As long as you have done your homework and you are careful and you stop
>whenever you have a question and are not sure of the answer, I believe most
>people can do a lot of their own electrical work.
>
> Of course if you feel those codes don't apply to you, then don't try.
But before you even attempt to touch a wire, visit this website.
http://www.broomleigh.org
Remember, accidents happen and we all need to be prepared for the
afterlife.
| |
| oldfart82@some_dot_com.com 2005-07-15, 12:25 pm |
| On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:32:49 -0500, "Tim Fischer" <none@nospam.com>
wrote:
quote:
>
>"Joseph Meehan" <sligojoe_Spamno@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:42dBe.18433$zY4.15272@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
>
>stop
>most
>
>Exactly. I'll add to that, assume there's code for EVERYTHING including
>things you might not consider, like staple spacing in a romex run, etc.
>Always do things to code -- it's there for your safety. Just because it
>SEEMS like it will work (but violates code) is not a good reason to do it.
>
>-Tim
>
Just curious, what is the legal requirements for staple spacing?
I generally use one within 6 to 8 inches of a box (closer for plastic
boxes without clamps, but I normally use metal boxes). Then I put a
staple about every 20 to 36 inches. figuring 2 feet is ideal on a
ceiling and 3 feet is plenty on an open wall, (like in a garage), and
if it's going to be a closed wall, I place them every 4 feet or so.
Not knowing there was a requirement, this is just what seems to work
and keep the wires tight. (As a guess, I probably staple MORE than
required).
I cant wait to hear the results.
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