Basic Residential Wiring Methods

Open Framing

• Running electrical cable through rough-framed walls starts from the last outlet box and continues back to the service panel. After installing all the outlet boxes in the run, you drill holes through the center of the studs for the cable to pass through. You should always leave about 2 feet of cable slack around each box for making connections. The job goes more smoothly with two people working together; one person feeding the cable and the other pulling it through the studs.

Finished

• At some point the wiring behind a finished wall may need replacement or you might want to add a new circuit. To do this, you need to cut openings in the drywall over the wall studs with a saw or utility knife. The openings should measure about 3 inches high and reach two inches beyond the stud's edges. Using a stud finder helps locates the studs. After drilling holes in the studs, you run the cable through holes. Using fish tape, metal coiled wire that is easy to manipulate, facilitates running the cable behind the drywall.

Attic and Basement

• A good option for installing cable to a new outlet box is routing the cable through an attic or basement, if possible. For example, to run cable through a basement, you need to drill a hole in the floor directly below the outlet box you want to use as a starting point for your cable. Finding the bottom of the hole in the basement allows you to drill a hole in the sole plate and feed cable to the outlet. You can then run the cable to the new box by stapling it to the floor joists in the basement, cutting a hole in the sole plate under the new box, and pushing the cable up to the outlet.

GFCI

• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCIs, increase the safety of your home's electrical system. You take advantage of any rewiring and install them in place of your old receptacles. In some instances, the National Electric Code requires the use of GFCIs. Bathroom, kitchens, basements, and other damp rooms in the home must have these devices. Each GFCI contains two small lights that allow you to test the unit, to ensure that it's functioning properly.