When 120 V circuits are abandoned in a residence, is it proper to leave the NM cable in place, snip the hot and neutral wires just after they enter the panel board, and leave the ground wire connected at the panelboard and at the outlet box that was formerly served?
Abandoned wires
- Thread starter Geber
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Why leave the ground wire connected. I don't believe the NEC address this directly. If you cap the wires off at both ends and they are in their proper enclosure then there is no issue.
If the cable is shorted and no good I would cut it short at the jb and push it out of the box and I would also cut it at the panel where it cannot be energized.
Around here the inspectors don't want to see wires hanging loose in the crawls-- we terminate them in a JB with cover.
If the cable is shorted and no good I would cut it short at the jb and push it out of the box and I would also cut it at the panel where it cannot be energized.
Around here the inspectors don't want to see wires hanging loose in the crawls-- we terminate them in a JB with cover.
Abandoned wires -- thanks
Abandoned wires -- thanks
Thanks, Dennis. The wires are probably ok; there are two neighboring single family residences that were converted from electric heat to oil heat. The cables and junction boxes were left in place, and the junction boxes were covered with solid covers. The hot wires in the service panel barely clear the cable clamps, so there is no way to energize them. I don't see any reason to worry about them.
Abandoned wires -- thanks
Thanks, Dennis. The wires are probably ok; there are two neighboring single family residences that were converted from electric heat to oil heat. The cables and junction boxes were left in place, and the junction boxes were covered with solid covers. The hot wires in the service panel barely clear the cable clamps, so there is no way to energize them. I don't see any reason to worry about them.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
I usually just tag the wires and short them out at both ends...
- Status