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.