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BOB March 17th 06 07:37 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


Toller March 17th 06 07:52 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 

"BOB" wrote in message
...
Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

This will not meet code, since wires have to be longer than they are, but
backclamp outlets will effectively give you an extra inch or two.



Jeff Wisnia March 17th 06 08:14 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


How about using butt splice crimp connectors to join on additional short
lengths of wire?

They're available almost anywhere electrical stuff is sold and the
crimping tool only costs a few bucks.

http://www.action-electronics.com/terminal.htm

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Steve Noll March 17th 06 08:21 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:37:45 -0500, BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


Back when I worked as an electrician I came across this in buildings
built around WWII. Must have been due to copper shortage. Most
annoying! I would try insulated crimp butt splices. They would be a
bit smaller than wirenuts. The trick will be finding a crimper you
can fit into the box. Might have to grind off part of the tool.
Another possibility is search for other wire nuts. I've seen some
that were huge compared to others, even though they were all for use
on a similar quantity of #12 wires.

Steve Noll | The Used Equipment Dealer Directory:
| http://www.big-list.com

Tom March 17th 06 08:37 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:37:45 -0500, BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,



I've run into this too, and asked other electricians about what they
would do, and I'll explain what I do.

The majority of electricians answered:

1. They charge their customers for a new wire run, if they have it.
Imagine that.

2. If a customer doesn't have the money, then wire nutting on desired
length of wire to the short wire is done. This short length of wire
( 2 times required length) does not count for box fill if you already
have a properly sized box. But check with your situation, and all
codes.

3. This is what I DO, I butt splice on longer free conductors, with
insulated butt terminals. I find them very clean, secure (if done
correctly), and take up minimal room in the box, verses a wirenut.
Plus the price is what most customers can afford. ;)

Now remember, I only recommended that qualified electricians work on
your equipment, it's not worth the chance of fires, or electricutions.
:D

hth,

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com

Doug Kanter March 17th 06 08:40 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
"Tom" wrote in message
...

3. This is what I DO, I butt splice on longer free conductors, with
insulated butt terminals. I find them very clean, secure (if done
correctly), and take up minimal room in the box, verses a wirenut.
Plus the price is what most customers can afford. ;)


I've got a crimp tool that's damned near perfect, but the ones I see
available now are all wrong - they have flat jaws, which don't really shape
crimps correctly. Have you found a source for a proper tool?



Phil Munro March 17th 06 08:42 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
After many years working on our old house which has plaster/lath
walls, I've learned to just do the plaster/lath work needed to replace
some boxes. You might want to consider this. Once you get the old
box out of the wall, and consider whether or not the wire that is there
is worth saving, it will be possible to make a safe splice to extend
the wire AND replace the box with a larger one, OR run a new piece of
romex.
This also lets you think carefully about any other changes you might
want to make there. If the romex/wiring that is there has crumbly
insulation, replacement of some of it is the wisest thing to do
This is what it takes to deal well with these kinds of problems.
OR, hire someone to do it for you!! --Phil

BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


--
Phil Munro Dept of Electrical & Computer Engin
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, Ohio 44555

George E. Cawthon March 17th 06 08:50 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
BOB wrote:
Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


Wire nuts was good first thought, but you should
not use 12 gauge wire. Use14 gauge multistrand
(flexible) wire between the old wire and the
outlet and use the smallest wire nuts that fit.

If you really can't get the wire back in the box
(can't see how that would be likely) then you need
a bigger box. A box extension, which means the
outlet extends from the wall, or removal of the
box and installation of a larger box, which could
get messy.

Kevin Ricks March 17th 06 08:53 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 

"BOB" wrote in message
...
Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


Try using backfeed type outlets. These are the type where you push the wires
in the back and then tighten the screws on the side like what a GFCI has.
(Not to be confused with the cheaper 'backstab' outlets were the wire are
held only by a spring clip).

If that does not work then you may need to replace boxes. I just pry the old
box off the stud and let it fall into the wall cavity. Then replace the old
box with deep boxes. Even a new standard size box will have more room than
those old boxes. With new boxes, you should have enough room to 'pigtail'
new wire onto the old. Don't be tempted to splice behind or outside of the
box.

Other options would be to move the box up or down a few inches and repair
the wall. Put in a double box, or a single new box at a different location,
maybe in the same wall cavity a few inches away, then splice into the old
box and put a blank cover plate on the old box.

Kevin








mm March 17th 06 09:28 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:37:45 -0500, BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?


Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece


Unless the original wire is 12 gauge, no point in using 12 gauge. If
it's 14, 14 will do.

but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.


Maybe you're not pushing hard enough.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,



[email protected] March 17th 06 09:55 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
install new empty box nearby and wire boxes together, install blank
cover on box with wires too short.

yeah old work boxes are often jammed, new box is easiest best and cheap
fix.

this has occuered here, original wiring very short:(


BOB March 17th 06 10:58 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
WOW! That was a quick and good response.

Never seen this on usenet before in more than 8 years of use.

thanks folks.


Tony Hwang March 17th 06 11:24 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
BOB wrote:

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,

Hi,
Unclamp the wire and try to pull, there may be a extra slack loop
behind the box(our code requires it) or you'll have to crimp extra piece
of wire.

Jeff Wisnia March 18th 06 12:09 AM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
Doug Kanter wrote:

"Tom" wrote in message
...


3. This is what I DO, I butt splice on longer free conductors, with
insulated butt terminals. I find them very clean, secure (if done
correctly), and take up minimal room in the box, verses a wirenut.
Plus the price is what most customers can afford. ;)



I've got a crimp tool that's damned near perfect, but the ones I see
available now are all wrong - they have flat jaws, which don't really shape
crimps correctly. Have you found a source for a proper tool?




Go to this page:

http://www.aiyamicro.com//legacy-pro...ping-tools.htm

http://tinyurl.com/jlh6p

And scroll down to the HT336A crimping tool with exchangeable crimping dies.

Then scroll further to HT-336HDIE, HT-336RDIE or HT336WDIE, depending on
the design of the crimp connector you'll be using.

I've used one of these at someone else's plant, but the only crimping
tool I own is one of the kind you described with almost flat jaws. If
I'm really concerned about the reliability of an inline connection I
usually make a twisted splice, solder it and put a double layer of
shrink tubing over it. :)

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Pete C. March 18th 06 12:09 AM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
Doug Kanter wrote:

"Tom" wrote in message
...

3. This is what I DO, I butt splice on longer free conductors, with
insulated butt terminals. I find them very clean, secure (if done
correctly), and take up minimal room in the box, verses a wirenut.
Plus the price is what most customers can afford. ;)


I've got a crimp tool that's damned near perfect, but the ones I see
available now are all wrong - they have flat jaws, which don't really shape
crimps correctly. Have you found a source for a proper tool?


Proper crimp tools are available from AMP, Greenlee, etc. the problem is
you'll spend $150 on the thing.

Pete C.

PipeDown March 18th 06 12:23 AM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 

"BOB" wrote in message
...
WOW! That was a quick and good response.

Never seen this on usenet before in more than 8 years of use.

thanks folks.


Solder and heat shrink tubing (and a twist of electrical tape for good luck)
.. Good as a original and no extra bulk (just a bit less flexible).

backstab outlets are a good option but pose their own reliability problems.

AL wire? better not solder



[email protected] March 18th 06 12:34 AM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
I have to toss in that I'm extremely sceptical about using crimp
connectors on solid wire- you have to crimp hard enough to deform the
wire, and I don't think your run-of-the-mill,
looks-like-a-pair-of-pliers crimper is going to exert enough force.

Dave


Tony Hwang March 18th 06 12:54 AM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
wrote:

I have to toss in that I'm extremely sceptical about using crimp
connectors on solid wire- you have to crimp hard enough to deform the
wire, and I don't think your run-of-the-mill,
looks-like-a-pair-of-pliers crimper is going to exert enough force.

Dave

Hi,
Vice grip pliers will do.

Doug Kanter March 18th 06 04:36 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 

"Pete C." wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:

"Tom" wrote in message
...

3. This is what I DO, I butt splice on longer free conductors, with
insulated butt terminals. I find them very clean, secure (if done
correctly), and take up minimal room in the box, verses a wirenut.
Plus the price is what most customers can afford. ;)


I've got a crimp tool that's damned near perfect, but the ones I see
available now are all wrong - they have flat jaws, which don't really
shape
crimps correctly. Have you found a source for a proper tool?


Proper crimp tools are available from AMP, Greenlee, etc. the problem is
you'll spend $150 on the thing.

Pete C.


Yeah, well, if you don't, you could burn your house down, or your boat or
car, wherever you've got crimp connections.



dnoyeB March 20th 06 03:41 PM

Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?
 
BOB wrote:
Wires Too Short in Outlet Box, How to Extend Length ?

I have some 110 volt boxes which hold the Outlets and some are for
Light switches. The problem is when I go to replace the old outlet or
light switch the wires are so short that reconnecting a new outlet or
wire is impossible. The wires literally will not even allow me to get
to the screw without great effort.

So when I go to install the new outlet/light switch some of the wires
either broke.

This section of the house is about 50 years old and it appears these
are the oldest boxes.

Is there a good/safe way to EXTEND those 110 volt wires?
I tried using 12 gauge wires and using a wire nut to extend a piece
but this made it impossible to push all those wires back into the box.

So does anyone have a method to extend those wires?

Thanks,


I did this at one house. Cut out the drywall and put on wire nuts on a
length of fresh wire. Probably not proper. That wiring was soooo bad.
I been meaning to put some AFCIs in that house. I think ill do that
this weekend. Probably all that wiring should be replaced as it was
brittle and the walls were bade of wood. Accident waiting to happen.


Proper way I think would have been to rip open the wall, and put in an
extra box closer to the source of the wire and let the wire nuts be in
the extra box. Or maybe just move the outlet.

--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16


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