I am remodeling an old stone house and am looking for some sort of
decorative electrical conduit or raceway.

I seen a show on This Old House at one time that showed a decorative
raceway / conduit that had the wire already inside it and snapped
together with plug boxes and all that fit right on the outside of the
wall.

I tried going to the This Old House web page but I have to have a
password to post a question to them and couldn't find out how to get
one.

Now I cannot find anything like that.
Can anyone help me locate a supplier of such things or at least a
suggestion of google search perimeters that would bring up suppliers?

Try searching under plugmold



"CanopyCo" wrote in message
ps.com...
I am remodeling an old stone house and am looking for some sort of
decorative electrical conduit or raceway.

I seen a show on This Old House at one time that showed a decorative
raceway / conduit that had the wire already inside it and snapped
together with plug boxes and all that fit right on the outside of the
wall.

I tried going to the This Old House web page but I have to have a
password to post a question to them and couldn't find out how to get
one.

Now I cannot find anything like that.
Can anyone help me locate a supplier of such things or at least a
suggestion of google search perimeters that would bring up suppliers?

"CanopyCo" wrote in message
ps.com...
I am remodeling an old stone house and am looking for some sort of
decorative electrical conduit or raceway.

I seen a show on This Old House at one time that showed a decorative
raceway / conduit that had the wire already inside it and snapped
together with plug boxes and all that fit right on the outside of the
wall.

I tried going to the This Old House web page but I have to have a
password to post a question to them and couldn't find out how to get
one.

Now I cannot find anything like that.
Can anyone help me locate a supplier of such things or at least a
suggestion of google search perimeters that would bring up suppliers?


It sounds like Plugmold which is made by Wiremold. It is usually available
from electrical supply companies.

On Sep 16, 2:18 pm, CanopyCo wrote:
I am remodeling an old stone house and am looking for some sort of
decorative electrical conduit or raceway.

I seen a show on This Old House at one time that showed a decorative
raceway / conduit that had the wire already inside it and snapped
together with plug boxes and all that fit right on the outside of the
wall.

I tried going to the This Old House web page but I have to have a
password to post a question to them and couldn't find out how to get
one.

Now I cannot find anything like that.
Can anyone help me locate a supplier of such things or at least a
suggestion of google search perimeters that would bring up suppliers?

Wiremold, Home Depot has it. (Tip, it cuts easiest with a fine
toothed hack saw 32 TPI)

CanopyCo wrote:
I am remodeling an old stone house and am looking for some sort of
decorative electrical conduit or raceway.

I seen a show on This Old House at one time that showed a decorative
raceway / conduit that had the wire already inside it and snapped
together with plug boxes and all that fit right on the outside of the
wall.

I tried going to the This Old House web page but I have to have a
password to post a question to them and couldn't find out how to get
one.

Now I cannot find anything like that.
Can anyone help me locate a supplier of such things or at least a
suggestion of google search perimeters that would bring up suppliers?


Electrical supply houses are now selling painted EMT,
(Electrical Metallic Tubing), in a variety of colors.
You can paint the conduit boxes and fittings to match.
If you use the metal Wiremold product, don't forget
to install the special bushings to protect the wiring.

http://tinyurl.com/2zvqkt

Once you learn how to handle Wiremold it will become
easy install quickly and neatly. It can also be painted
to match any decor.

[8~{} Uncle Monster

Thanks all, but Plugmold by Wiremold doesn't look quite like what I
seen.
That is not quite as nice looking or as easy to install as what I seen
on the show.

If this is a nice as I can get, I am thinking about routering out wood
and covering the wiring with that to make my own decorative raceway.

If I went that route, would I have to use conduit first, or could I
just use the wood as a conduit?

CanopyCo wrote:
Thanks all, but Plugmold by Wiremold doesn't look quite like what I
seen.
That is not quite as nice looking or as easy to install as what I seen
on the show.

If this is a nice as I can get, I am thinking about routering out wood
and covering the wiring with that to make my own decorative raceway.

If I went that route, would I have to use conduit first, or could I
just use the wood as a conduit?


If there was a short circuit that caused the wire to
burn, it could start a fire in the wood. The metal
raceway not only protects against fire, it provides
another grounding path. If the insulation on the hot
wire somehow fails, it will short against the metal
conduit and trip the circuit breaker. If you want to
rout out a channel in the wood for wiring, you can use
MC (Metal Clad) cable. MC has a spiral wound flexible
metal covering over wire. Flex is basically the same
thing but without wire, you pull your own wire through
it. These products are available at the all the big
box stores, like Lowe's and Home Depot.

[8~{} Uncle Monster

On Sep 16, 8:18?pm, Uncle Monster wrote:
CanopyCo wrote:
Thanks all, but Plugmold by Wiremold doesn't look quite like what I
seen.
That is not quite as nice looking or as easy to install as what I seen
on the show.

If this is a nice as I can get, I am thinking about routering out wood
and covering the wiring with that to make my own decorative raceway.

If I went that route, would I have to use conduit first, or could I
just use the wood as a conduit?

If there was a short circuit that caused the wire to
burn, it could start a fire in the wood. The metal
raceway not only protects against fire, it provides
another grounding path. If the insulation on the hot
wire somehow fails, it will short against the metal
conduit and trip the circuit breaker. If you want to
rout out a channel in the wood for wiring, you can use
MC (Metal Clad) cable. MC has a spiral wound flexible
metal covering over wire. Flex is basically the same
thing but without wire, you pull your own wire through
it. These products are available at the all the big
box stores, like Lowe's and Home Depot.

[8~{} Uncle Monster

I thought about using conduit inside the routed wood, but then I
thought about the fact that there is no conduit inside wood walls.

Isn't it as dangerous to run wire threw a hole in a 2 x 4 that is
sandwiched inside wood paneling and surrounded by Styrofoam
insulation, as it is to run it outside the wall under a routed 2 x 4?

Then there is the plastic conduit.
Doesn't that burn too?

I agree that running it inside standard mettle conduit and covering it
with wood would be safest, but isn't my plan as safe as standard
methods for homes?

CanopyCo wrote:
On Sep 16, 8:18?pm, Uncle Monster wrote:
CanopyCo wrote:
Thanks all, but Plugmold by Wiremold doesn't look quite like what I
seen.
That is not quite as nice looking or as easy to install as what I seen
on the show.
If this is a nice as I can get, I am thinking about routering out wood
and covering the wiring with that to make my own decorative raceway.
If I went that route, would I have to use conduit first, or could I
just use the wood as a conduit?
If there was a short circuit that caused the wire to
burn, it could start a fire in the wood. The metal
raceway not only protects against fire, it provides
another grounding path. If the insulation on the hot
wire somehow fails, it will short against the metal
conduit and trip the circuit breaker. If you want to
rout out a channel in the wood for wiring, you can use
MC (Metal Clad) cable. MC has a spiral wound flexible
metal covering over wire. Flex is basically the same
thing but without wire, you pull your own wire through
it. These products are available at the all the big
box stores, like Lowe's and Home Depot.

[8~{} Uncle Monster

I thought about using conduit inside the routed wood, but then I
thought about the fact that there is no conduit inside wood walls.

Isn't it as dangerous to run wire threw a hole in a 2 x 4 that is
sandwiched inside wood paneling and surrounded by Styrofoam
insulation, as it is to run it outside the wall under a routed 2 x 4?

Then there is the plastic conduit.
Doesn't that burn too?

I agree that running it inside standard mettle conduit and covering it
with wood would be safest, but isn't my plan as safe as standard
methods for homes?


Nail plates are commonly used to protect Romex
and MC cables that are run through wood studs.
Here is a site that shows examples of wiring
and pipes in walls:

http://www.rd.com/content/openConten...ontentId=18240

Plastic switch, junction boxes and PVC conduit
are made with fire retardant materials.

[8~{} Uncle Monster

On Sep 17, 2:59 am, Uncle Monster wrote:
CanopyCo wrote:

I agree that running it inside standard mettle conduit and covering it
with wood would be safest, but isn't my plan as safe as standard
methods for homes?

Nail plates are commonly used to protect Romex
and MC cables that are run through wood studs.
Here is a site that shows examples of wiring
and pipes in walls:

http://www.rd.com/content/openConten...ontentId=18240


There you go.
Just like they show in the pictures and disruptions.
Nothing but insulated wire running threw holes drilled in wood
sandwiched between wood paneling and commonly stuffed with Styrofoam
insulation.

Often the paneling is resting right again the bent wire as it runs
threw the wall.

Why is that less of a fire hazard then a board right out where you can
see it, laying again sand stone or concrete, with a nice big channel
routered out of the center of it?

What about making it out of 1x 4s shaped like a U so it looked like a
4 x 4 beam?
That may even be legal.
I've seen that done in the center of rooms before to run the wire down
to a point where it was needed.

What about making my raceway out of Styrofoam backed paneling, would
that be better?
I could glue that together, and the Styrofoam would make it more rigid
and give a bigger gluing space.

Plastic switch, junction boxes and PVC conduit
are made with fire retardant materials.


Aren't 2 x 4s also fire retardant treated?

Not trying to be argumentative with you.
Just trying to tie down if it is a true hazard or just a coding
violation.

I have found that many things that are coding violations due to a
stated reason are in fact not valid reasons.
Kind of like using boat conduit in a house.

This is precisely why I live out in the country in a county that has
little or no restrictions.

What do they use to run wiring on a yaught, house or sail boat?

CanopyCo wrote:
On Sep 17, 2:59 am, Uncle Monster wrote:
CanopyCo wrote:

I agree that running it inside standard mettle conduit and covering it
with wood would be safest, but isn't my plan as safe as standard
methods for homes?
Nail plates are commonly used to protect Romex
and MC cables that are run through wood studs.
Here is a site that shows examples of wiring
and pipes in walls:

http://www.rd.com/content/openConten...ontentId=18240


There you go.
Just like they show in the pictures and disruptions.
Nothing but insulated wire running threw holes drilled in wood
sandwiched between wood paneling and commonly stuffed with Styrofoam
insulation.

Often the paneling is resting right again the bent wire as it runs
threw the wall.

Why is that less of a fire hazard then a board right out where you can
see it, laying again sand stone or concrete, with a nice big channel
routered out of the center of it?

What about making it out of 1x 4s shaped like a U so it looked like a
4 x 4 beam?
That may even be legal.
I've seen that done in the center of rooms before to run the wire down
to a point where it was needed.

What about making my raceway out of Styrofoam backed paneling, would
that be better?
I could glue that together, and the Styrofoam would make it more rigid
and give a bigger gluing space.

Plastic switch, junction boxes and PVC conduit
are made with fire retardant materials.


Aren't 2 x 4s also fire retardant treated?

Not trying to be argumentative with you.
Just trying to tie down if it is a true hazard or just a coding
violation.

I have found that many things that are coding violations due to a
stated reason are in fact not valid reasons.
Kind of like using boat conduit in a house.

This is precisely why I live out in the country in a county that has
little or no restrictions.


When I do work for someone, I tend to follow the
applicable codes and standards. The reason for
this is liability. If something goes wrong and
there is a fire or accident, the powers to be are
always looking for someone to blame. Even out in
rural areas where there may be no inspection, I
will still install wiring and equipment in the
proper manner. As an individual living out in the
country, I suppose you can do whatever you wish
but if something goes wrong and you have a fire,
your insurance company may be reluctant to pay
when an investigation turns up improper wiring.
If you noticed, nail plates are used to protect
wiring that is within one and a quarter inches
of the surface. If you install Romex protected
by two inches of wood, I would think that could
be acceptable. A channel cut out behind a 4x4
should provide plenty of protection for Romex.

[8~{} Uncle Monster