I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack

On Apr 14, 10:09 am, wrote:
I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack

When the drywall cuts are made, make the cuts at a 45 degree angle,
that way all one has to do is slap some mud on it and screw it back
into place.

An alternative, would be to go into the attic, drill a hole in the top
plate at the new switch location, splice into the old switch leg and
drop it down the wall. Depending on how the original wiring was
routed, the wire may reach the new switch location without making a
slice. A cable can be ran from the ceiling box to the new switch if
you don't want a j-box in the attic.

Another possibility, if the box is on the stud that he needs to go
through, since the box is not being moved very far, is to remove the
existing box, drill a hole in the stud, and then cut-in the new switch
box. That should give him 32" to work without removing any drywall.
If the existing box is not on a stud, one can still use a paddle bit
with a 12" extension on it with minimal damage to the drywall.

Zack,

Wire pipe? Are you required to enclose your pipe in conduit? If so then
the electrician is proposing the cheapest way to do this. If not then read
volts500's post. Either way will involve some drywall work and repainting.
$2000 worth? Not likely if you can paint and sand..

Dave M.

Any and all junctions must be accessible.
You mention pipe. This is a conduit install?
Is this commercial or residential?
Are the studs wood or metal?
Is it a drop ceiling or gyp?
Can you get to it from above?
Is it a switch leg or a through the box switch?
Is there any other wiring in the box now?

You need to get wire from where it is now to the new location.
You need to install a new box for the switch. You need a blank
plate for the existing switch box. You cannot cover the existing
box with anything preventing access to the location.

Depending on location, it may be easier and cheaper to run a new
switch leg to a new "cut in" box at the new location and abandon
the existing.

I'm sure your electrician fella knows all the problems and is
suggesting the fastest, quickest, easiest solution for your
problem.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




wrote in message
ps.com...
I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an
electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was
accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on
the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot
closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out
the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire
pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired
and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires
that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new
switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and
cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do
not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter),
but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack

wrote in message
How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch.

To extend the wires you'd have to make a splice inside of a wiring box. In
your case, it would then be covered over with the drywall and hidden.

It is against the code to make a splice inside of a wall or any location
that is not readily accessible. No hidden joins inside of a wall or
ceiling. There will not be enough wire to just pull it over to the new
location.

On 14 Apr 2007 08:09:04 -0700, wrote:

I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack


The cheapest way out would be to use a surface mount box and wiremold.
It will also look like a crack whore, but you get what you pay for.

On 14 Apr 2007 08:09:04 -0700, wrote:

I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,

I would never assume that anything anyone says is accurate. I was
just thinking about that earlier this morning, after my friend's vet
gave me some very dubious advice, and someone else told me he's bound
to be right because he's a vet. I remember the five times medical
doctors have misdiagnosed me, and how 3 of them at least prescribed
either drugs or surgery totally inappropriately because they had made
the wrong diagnosis, and the orthopedist who set my broken leg
improperly. Three of these six were specialists, and one more
specialist (a seventh doctor) gave me mistaken advice, although it
didn't reach the level of malpractice. None of these doctors were
newbies, they all had a decade or more expeience, plus medical school,
internship, and for the specialists, residency.

And then there was the guy with a new Ph.D. in political science about
to teach a major university especially well known for its political
science department, who made the kind of blunder that I, 22 years old
with a degree in mathematics!, would never have made. Which almost no
one would have made. I don't think any one did more to cost us the
election I was working in. We lost by 4 votes out of 50,000 cast.

It's harder to live without being able to rely on more people, it's
unnerving, but it can also be unnerving to rely on someone who turns
out not to have known what he's talking about.

**

but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted.

In addition, to the other questions people have asked, do you have
access to this wall from underneath? You don't have to be able to
tell exactly where the wall is. I just want to know if you there is a
finished ceiling below it or an unfinished space with the floor above
showing or easily accessible.

Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be

Is metal conduit required, or you just have it for some other reason?

extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut

Yes, a cover. Someone else noticed that.

out a single square for the new switch.

There are boxes that can be put in walls with holds no bigger than the
box. They're called "old work" boxes, even though they're new,
because everything else is old.

I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

You could also put an electrostatic pillow in the wall between the old
switch and the new switch. They are about 45 dollars, but no wires
would be required.

You don't think this would work? See, you do know something about
electricity.

**Details of just two example above: 1) I had a pain in my side, and
the first doctor wanted to do an appendectomy. She would have done it
I'm sure if I hadn't gone to see another doctor. I had just a little
bit of fat at the right spot, and despite how small it was, even after
he told me it was there, I just couldn't see around it to see the
bruise on my side. 2) In high school, when I would get dizzy standing
up suddenly, after an EEG, my GP prescribed a drug which I later
learned was for epilepsy. I don't think he told my mother anymore
than he told me, but she wanted to see a specialist. The board
certified neurologish prescribed a second drug in addition to the
first, and when my mother asked if it was habit-forming, he said,
"What do you think we're doing here, Mrs. MM, running an opium den."
He never did answer her question. We had to go see a second
specialist to find one who listened carefully to my story (for
example, it ONLY happend when I stood up.), and took me, over the
course of a couple weeks, off both drugs. Story is too complicated,
but later a prime researcher in epilepsy told me that I didn't have
epilepsy and had never had it. I got dizzy, or feint, just like about
half the papulation does if they stand up too fast.

Thanks,
Zack

Is it worth agonizing over until you firm up the price? $2000, after
all, is your own exaggerated estimate.


wrote:
I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack

On Apr 14, 11:09 am, wrote:
I just had an electrician over. I realize that he is an electrician
and I am a no-nothing, so I assume that what he told me was accurate,
but still.... I have a light switch in a central location on the
wall. I want to move that switch further over about a foot closer to
the edge of the wall. He told me that he would have to cut out the
drywall between the two points (possibly more depending on wire pipe
locations), and then we would have to get the drywall repaired and
repainted. Suddenly, moving a light switch turns into a $2,000
project (my exaggerated estimate, not his). How come the wires that
are currently in the wiring pipe up to the switch cannot just be
extended horizontally from point A to point B where the new switch
would be? Then, he would just cap the old hole with a cover and cut
out a single square for the new switch. I understand that I do not
know NEC codes (or anything about electricity for that matter), but is
there no easier way to move a light switch one foot?

Thanks,
Zack

there may be a reason for its location due to how the wall was
constructed. is it a bearing wall there might not of been room for it
closer to entry of room. check this before cutting up your wall and
finding there is no space for the box without cutting into your
framing.

On 15 Apr 2007 16:11:30 -0700, "sym" wrote:



there may be a reason for its location due to how the wall was
constructed. is it a bearing wall there might not of been room for it
closer to entry of room. check this before cutting up your wall and
finding there is no space for the box without cutting into your
framing.

Good point. For example, I cut an opening for a receptacle once, and
only then noticed that I was back to back with a wall switch. Oops.

On Apr 15, 10:01 pm, mm wrote:
On 15 Apr 2007 16:11:30 -0700, "sym" wrote:



there may be a reason for its location due to how the wall was
constructed. is it a bearing wall there might not of been room for it
closer to entry of room. check this before cutting up your wall and
finding there is no space for the box without cutting into your
framing.

Good point. For example, I cut an opening for a receptacle once, and
only then noticed that I was back to back with a wall switch. Oops.

oops hate it when that happens