adding outlet on exterior siding

[phillyk610]

Hello All! A customer wants me to install outlets around his outside deck and on the siding of the back of the house. There is one existing outlet in the siding on the back of the house. Since underneath the deck is NOT accessable, he asked if I could run wiremold or pvc around the outside of the deck from the existing outlet. Additionally, above the existing outlet, he wants me to install another outlet for a TV. He asked that I run wiremold or PVC to this outlet as well. Since he's had major trouble fishing his walls in the past, he'd rather avoid complications and just surface mount. My questions: is PVC the only "legal" method of doing this;besides fishing the wall what is the next best way;do they have flat "grooved" siding blocks so I can mount the box level/plumb;is there a long,thin, flat siding block to strap the pvc? Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

[480sparky]

I'm not really hip on Wiremold, so I can't say for sure if it's even rated for exterior use. PVC will work just fine as long as it's UV-rated.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Can you fish from an outlet directly behind. Often times there is a receptacle inside that you can pop out from.

 

[raider1]

Can you fish from an outlet directly behind. Often times there is a receptacle inside that you can pop out from.

I second Dennis' suggestion.

Another thing to keep in mind when using PVC aboveground on the exterior of a building is thermal expansion, take a look at 352.44.


Chris

 

[resistance]

They don't make a wiremold for outdoor use, and PVC is not the only option.

 

[Ed Carr]

If the siding is vinyl then use a surface mount block for a flat
area to put your box on.It's just a vinyl block with a z cut on the back
side to match the siding profile.

Ed

 

[Mule]

If the siding is vinyl then use a surface mount block for a flat
area to put your box on.It's just a vinyl block with a z cut on the back
side to match the siding profile.

Ed

This electrician "HATES" vinyl siding...yuk especially where they put in on around a existing 60amp service, riser and all !! and you have to try to fit your new stuff around it, on a service upgrade...in fact Im doing one tomorrow..60amp up to 150amp and vinyl is tightly aranged around the existing 1'' riser....what fun

 

[electricalperson]

This electrician "HATES" vinyl siding...yuk especially where they put in on around a existing 60amp service, riser and all !! and you have to try to fit your new stuff around it, on a service upgrade...in fact Im doing one tomorrow..60amp up to 150amp and vinyl is tightly aranged around the existing 1'' riser....what fun

at least it wasnt brick ive been on a service call to a house that had the entire riser and meter socket covered in bricks. all that was sticking out was the meter

 

[brantmacga]

what's the roof situation above this wall? i like to drill the top plate and fish one down; use the arlington old-work siding in-box. if not that particular box, i just cut in a device box and slap on a w/p cover. using the in-box will give you a little more 'hand room' in the wall. if you can't drill the top plate from the attic, try one of those flexible bits up the wall.