Installing romex in a home

[Dennis Alwon]

Let's remember that for those who are using the 2008 and have not amended the 2008 you will not be able to crow fly across joist in a crawl space unless you have a running board or drill hole.

 

[mdshunk]

Let's remember that for those who are using the 2008 and have not amended the 2008 you will not be able to crow fly across joist in a crawl space unless you have a running board or drill hole.

If I ever have an electrical inspector even enter a crawl space to look around, I'll give him a big fat kiss on YouTube.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

If I ever have an electrical inspector even enter a crawl space to look around, I'll give him a big fat kiss on YouTube.

We have a few around here who go under with flashlight and overalls. Not many. You can also see the wires from the entrance.

Fortunately NC deleted that change.

Give him a kiss for me.

 

[iwire]

If I ever have an electrical inspector even enter a crawl space to look around, I'll give him a big fat kiss on YouTube.

I believe (and hope) that would violate You tube's terms of use. YUCK!

 

[peter d]

You'll get lots of strong opinions on both sides, but for me it's pretty simple. I can sum it up: "Beauty where it counts, speed and economy where it doesn't". I run diagonal and cross-country on a regular basis. No need for level, plumb, and right angles on concealed work. Exposed work is a horse of another color, and you're well-advised to run it much like you would pipe in that case.

I agree with that, and that's how I like to work. Yet I've caught a lot of grief over the years for doing things that way.

 

[peter d]

I think you would like working here in the land of 'strapping'.

No holes need to be drilled in the joists.

It definitely saves time on drilling, but it eats the time up for the extra labor to set the ceiling boxes and cutting strapping if it's in the way of a box or recessed light. I often wonder if it all washes out in the end, as I always work on houses with strapping.

One thing about strapping though...it makes old work go so much faster.

 

[jmsbrush]

Let's remember that for those who are using the 2008 and have not amended the 2008 you will not be able to crow fly across joist in a crawl space unless you have a running board or drill hole.

I am not familar with the term crow fly! What does that mean???

 

[iwire]

As the crow flies usually means taking the most direct route between two points.

 

[electricmanscott]

I just roughed a house and did the old right angle, straight as an arrow deal.

It is now being boarded, all my work is covered for eternity, I added up all the wire I used....I am an idiot! What a waste of time and wire. What was I thinking

 

[wawireguy]

In eastern WA it's standard to run with the framing members, no diagonals. I don't see people spending much time making 90's. Just a nice turn and keep running it. I wouldn't spend time making it perfect but a nice looking job doesn't have to take much extra time. Try using some time savers like stackits for bundled runs. Really helps, especially down to multiple switches. I'm not a resi guy but I've done some and worked for a company that had a hardcore resi division. They didn't do it perfect but didn't leave a job that looked like a amateur did it either.

 

[jmsbrush]

Im not sure if I can run the wires in diaganols. I work in 4 different counties so it could varie between them. I would like to start doing it though, because of time money and voltage drop. I guess i Need to talk to the electrical inspectors first so I don't do a 6000 square foot house and then have him say "hey you cant do that because its not in a neat workman like manner"Guys I'm not kidding I had an inspector 4 or 5 months ago take his tape measure to see if my romex was stapled within 12 inches of the box

 

[Buck Parrish]

We have a saying in residential. "The wires should look relaxed - Not stretched".
When you have to make a 90 degree turn the wire should always be rounded.
You don't want it to look like the staple has pressure on it at the staple when you are turning.
Other wise run it as the crow flies.
Use running boards where safety comes in. Such as near a crawl space opening.

 

[mike johnson]

Yes.

Yes.

In eastern WA it's standard to run with the framing members, no diagonals. I don't see people spending much time making 90's. Just a nice turn and keep running it. I wouldn't spend time making it perfect but a nice looking job doesn't have to take much extra time. Try using some time savers like stackits for bundled runs. Really helps, especially down to multiple switches. I'm not a resi guy but I've done some and worked for a company that had a hardcore resi division. They didn't do it perfect but didn't leave a job that looked like a amateur did it either.

Yes. We need more electrical minds like yours in the trade.

In with the new and out with the old.

 

[mike johnson]

Yes.

Yes.

We have a saying in residential. "The wires should look relaxed - Not stretched".
When you have to make a 90 degree turn the wire should always be rounded.
You don't want it to look like the staple has pressure on it at the staple when you are turning.
Other wise run it as the crow flies.
Use running boards where safety comes in. Such as near a crawl space opening.

Yes. We need more electrical minds like yours in the trade.

In with the new and out with the old.

 

[peter d]

Yes. We need more electrical minds like yours in the trade.

In with the new and out with the old.

Hmmmm...Marc, Bob, myself, and others are hardly old timers...you'll just have to put up with us for a while longer.

 

[quogueelectric]

Hmmmm...Marc, Bob, myself, and others are hardly old timers...you'll just have to put up with us for a while longer.

You wouldnt be the first old lion to think that but the fact of the matter is the young strong lions are already knocking on your door to push you out of the pride. It is the circle of life... Hakuma matada hakuma matada.......Who are you kidding??

 

[LarryFine]

Hakuma matada hakuma matada.......Who are you kidding??

It's actually Hakuna Matata.

I do agree that neat need not mean anal, and need not take longer than messy.

I have some pix I'll post tomorrow. I'll as for opinions (as if I could stop them.)

 

[Dennis Alwon]

And of course there is this guys work.

 

[iwire]

And of course there is this guys work.

But that is exposed work and not one of us in this thread has said we do not make exposed work neat.

Now if a hard ceiling was going in that space that would have been a total waste of time.

 

[peter d]

But that is exposed work and not one of us in this thread has said we do not make exposed work neat.

IIRC, there was another series of pictures before that one that was posted by the same guy of the same job, and he said that even the stuff that was going to be inside the walls was that neat. Seems like a complete waste to me.

I looked but I can't find the other pictures now.