Percival P. Cassidy ) said...

OK. Thanks. Now I just thought of another question: if I use NM-B and
feed it down through the back of the inlet box and a hole in the siding,
how can I staple it within 8in. of the box? (Am I remembering the Code
correctly?)

There should be an exception to the stapling rule for fished cable. I don't
know what part of the NEC says so, but in the CEC the rule for non-metalic
sheathed cable is 12-510(3):

Notwithstanding Subrules (1) and (2), where the cable is run as
concealed wiring such that it is impracticable to support it, the
cable shall be permitted to be fished and need not be supported
between boxes and fittings.

Subrule (1) describes the need to support the cable within 300 mm (12")
of a box or fitting and every 1.5 m (60") thereafter, and subrule (2)
states that cable run through holes in joists or studs are considered
to be supported.

--
Calvin Henry-Cotnam
"Never ascribe to malice what can equally be explained by incompetence."
- Napoleon
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