Submitted 7 months ago by ThatGuy46475@lemmy.world to [deleted]
They’ll typically use something like this: Image
This flexible bit is about 4’ long. You cut the hole where you want the outlet, then insert that flexible bit to drill through the floor or ceiling, inside the wall. The cable is routed through the basement or attic.
If basement or attic are inaccessible, you can drill horizontally, three studs at a time. You’ll have holes every 4’. If you are creative, you can install new outlet boxes in those holes, and not have to do any drywall work.
Also, there is typically a hole near the tip of those. You can attach the wire to that and use it to pull the wire back through the holes you just drilled.
Not typically. Depends on where it’s located but sometimes the only drywall you’ll cut is for the cut in box. Like if it’s on an exterior wall some drywall may need to be cut cause of the insulation. But if you use an experienced electrican then we can get the job done with very minimal cutting
Depends
No.
You cut the hole where the outlet will be.
You feed romex wire down from the attic to that hole (ideally with metal sheath).
The part at the circuit box is important to do and do properly, but doesn’t pertain to your question, so I won’t get into that.
Then you insert a box in the drywall hole and feed the wire into the box. Secure the box to the stud/backside of the drywall. Attach the wires to the receptacle and secure it in the box. Install a cover plate (adjusting the 4 metal tabs at the receptacle corners with pliers may be necessary for it to sit flush).
And that’s it. Except for the circuit box part. But don’t attempt that as a layperson.
I should add that you might want a junction box in the middle of this whole thing (in the attic) in case you want to add another outlet/whatever to this circuit later.
It would help if you uploaded the blueprints for your house and annotated with the place you want more outlet(s)
If I ever saw a question that was overly specified … then it wasn’t this one for sure :)
No
If you don’t have a crawl space or attic with access, and aren’t somewhere they run conduit for resi, then most probably yes.
That would be an absolute last resort. Ideally you can fish a new wire through existing conduit, or run new wiring in attic or basement areas.
* if there’s conduit, or a basement, or an attic
There’s many ways to avoid doing that and the electrician will prefer not to. Generally they prefer to route it laterally through the attic or basement and vertically in the walls. Sometimes, holes are cut in the wall to secure the wire or change its direction.
But if it must move laterally along some drywall and through all of the studs then yeah they’ll need to open up that drywall to drill holes in all the studs.
yeah they’ll need to open up that drywall to drill holes in all the studs.
Not necessarily. They make 54" long, flexible drills that can go through 3 studs from a single hole. Some have 4’ extensions that you can attach as well, to drill studs 8 or even 12 feet out from a single hole.
That’s not a simple question to answer.
The electrician will have to fish wire through the walls between the new outlet and the panel.
Depending on the construction and the specific path, they may only have to cut a couple small holes and feed wire between them, or they may have to cut several to get past studs and navigate obstacles; but generally they shouldn’t need to open the entire wall/path. There will definitely be some cutting, it just depends on the job how much exactly.
Retrofitting new circuits can be super quick and easy, or it can be a massive headache. It’s varies quite a bit.
It depends on where your panel is, where you want the outlet, and how your house is built.
If they can route the wiring through the attic or basement or crawlspace they’ll do it that way.
Going along a wall, cutting a strip of drywall the entire way and boring through all the studs will take a lot of time.
Nobody cuts a strip. You typically can limit cuts by cutting one hole big enough to get a hand into on either side of studs. You drill a hole through the stud and pass the wire. Either that or cut a small hole right at the stud, make a small notch big enough for the wire and put a metal plate over the notch.
Most electricians try to minimize cutting holes everywhere because the homeowner gets mad and it wastes time. Better to pull up from the basement or pull down from attic if available.
I’ve seen people cut strips from the bottom of the wall so that you can run it through a bunch of studs (say from the left side of a wall to the right) so that you can drill through all the studs and patch the drywall with a single piece.
Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Generally, if you want to add a cable, they just year down your current home and have to rebuild it. Start with a contractor and tell him to bring his wrecking ball.