- Apr 5, 2002
- 24,326
- 68
- 91
This problem has come up numerous times through the years.
You have a pre-existing run of romex wire and you want to pop a new outlet into.
For example, in an unfinished basement or attic, you can see the romex, know the complete circuit and that it would be safe to add an outlet for future convenience.
Is it possible to do this without using 2 junction boxes?
The main issue is that once you cut the cable, there is not enough length to cut, strip and connect to the outlet.
Scenarios I have used or thought of:
1. Cut the cable, then pull the slack out of the run. This very rarely works as there is never enough slack (~3"+ on each end).
2. Don't cut the cable, but strip it and loop the bare conductors around the outlet terminals. This works if you have a little slack, but since you are not cutting the cable, you cannot pass each end through the conduit fitting/strain reliefs.
3. Use 2 junction boxes close together (or spread apart, or use 2 and install 2 outlets) or connected with connection fittings and add in some additional cable/wires to make up the distance lost going to the outlet terminals.
4. Go to either end of the cable run and disconnect it and feed it through the junction box, then replace the run you removed once the outlet is installed. The problem here is sometimes the ends are not easily accessible and may be nailed in place for a long distance.
If these are bad descriptions or too hard to visualize, I can MSPaint it up.
Maybe some of you professionals know a trick of the trade that I'm not seeing.
You have a pre-existing run of romex wire and you want to pop a new outlet into.
For example, in an unfinished basement or attic, you can see the romex, know the complete circuit and that it would be safe to add an outlet for future convenience.
Is it possible to do this without using 2 junction boxes?
The main issue is that once you cut the cable, there is not enough length to cut, strip and connect to the outlet.
Scenarios I have used or thought of:
1. Cut the cable, then pull the slack out of the run. This very rarely works as there is never enough slack (~3"+ on each end).
2. Don't cut the cable, but strip it and loop the bare conductors around the outlet terminals. This works if you have a little slack, but since you are not cutting the cable, you cannot pass each end through the conduit fitting/strain reliefs.
3. Use 2 junction boxes close together (or spread apart, or use 2 and install 2 outlets) or connected with connection fittings and add in some additional cable/wires to make up the distance lost going to the outlet terminals.
4. Go to either end of the cable run and disconnect it and feed it through the junction box, then replace the run you removed once the outlet is installed. The problem here is sometimes the ends are not easily accessible and may be nailed in place for a long distance.
If these are bad descriptions or too hard to visualize, I can MSPaint it up.
Maybe some of you professionals know a trick of the trade that I'm not seeing.