basic wiring...

[jb52761]

Good morning groupies...java time...can someone recommend a book or something for running electrical ? I want to run just a few sockets in my cabin, but have never run the wire before. I will do it myself but will have it checked by a knowledgeable friend. My circuit box is not in yet, but can I run the wire from a few sockets in the walls, and just have it reach to where the box will be, and have someone hook them to the box later ? The reason being, I am putting up the interior walls, and would like to get the socket holes placed before the panelling, etc.

[Kevin]

That should be find just make sure you have extra wire to play with.But hooking to the circut breakers is pretty much a no brainer.
A good book is Basic Wiring at the Home Depot.
Covers all the basics.
Kevin

[John_M]

I agree....the Home Depot books lay things out simply for the average do-it-yourselfer!!

They also have a nice collection of other electrical books as well...depending on your experience!!

[glenn kangiser]

Here is a DIY online site.  Be sure to click the blue links at the top of the subject you are viewing to get to more information and pictures etc.

http://doityourself.com/diy/homewiring.htm

[Amanda_931]

If you have to use the on-line source you could download what you hoped were the relevant pages onto the laptop, then put it into hibernation, head to the new house, open the laptop.




And be sure and contact your electric utility to see if they've just started enforcing some new rule.

Ours decided to get tough on smoke detectors--must be hard-wired in,  probably need more than one, must be interconnected.

(of course the time my house burnt the alarm went off after the fire department had gotten there.  Wouldn't even have done that if it had been hard-wired)

[jb52761]

Thanks all...just wanted to be sure this would be ok to do...I've done the socket wiring and basic wiring before, just not sure what kind or strength of wire to buy (i.e. volts etc)...going to get a book...FYI, sometimes I also check out  www.hammerzone.com  , can get some good instruction and pics there also.

[jb52761]

Update...I think this will work...just did furthur research...the Old Work boxes here will be easier. I can put the panelling up first rather that try to cut the holes out and get them to line up right.... 8-)

http://hammerzone.com/archives/elect/remodel1/lighting/track2ft/oldworkbox.htm

[glenn kangiser]

12 gauge Romex usually requires a 20 amp breaker -14 gauge a 15 amp breaker - going from memory - excessive length of run may affect it - the book should help.

[dorothyinak]

We just finished the wiring in our place....

We used

Wiring a House (For Pros by Pros) by Rex Cauldwell

and

The Complete Guide to Home Wiring: A Comprehensive Manual, from Basic Repairs to Advanced Projects (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library; U.S. Edition)       

So nice to have two sources.

Three way switches gave us the most headaches, since we were not doing the simple scenarios shown in the books.  Google became our best friend for that....thankfully many people put the more complicated wiring diagrams on thier websites for free.

http://danswiringpage.com/diagrams.htm
http://www.the-home-improvement-web.com/information/how-to/three-way-switch.htm

[harry51]

Code Check Electrical, A Field Guide to Wiring a Safe House is available at Home Depot, and is well worth the price.