Can romex get wet under construction?
kennyz
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
New construction — want to start romex wiring and attach light fixtures BEFORE roofing is done. Will occassional rains cause wire or fixtures to deteriorate? kennyz
Replies
No problem with the rough wiring, but why the fixtures?
Joe H
I think the electrician is in a hurry and has no other work currently. He needs to back off. Thank you for your response. KennyZ
Kennyz,
I would wait until the roof is watertight. It wouldn't effect the romex, but what about the boxes? Shame to start out with rusty nails/ staples e.c.t..
Dennis
BAD IDEA. The jacket may be waterproof, but I have seen moisture get in through the open ends of the cut wire. Takes forever to dry, and how do you really know?
I'm sure I don't need to tell you that H2O and electricity aren't best buddies.
Also, the 2005 NEC prohibits installation of NM cable, "Where exposed to excessive moisture or dampness".
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Edited 1/27/2008 6:08 pm ET by davidhawks
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you that H2O and electricity aren't best buddies."I disagree.Speecailly since I don't have any slaves to turn the paddles that would move the water in my hot tub.I find that the combination of water and electricity is a good think.And I love my electric instand hot water dispenser..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Point taken Bill, and you have certainly forgotten more than I will ever know about electricity.
Something about wet conductors that I'm not real comfortable with.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
There is such a thing as water cooled electrical cable...it's basically a rubber hose with a copper braid on the inside, and is used for high current, high temperature applications like electric induction furnaces in steel mills. A pump circulates water through the inside of the hose, directly in contact with the copper.
The first time I worked on a project that had water cooled cables I was pretty apprehensive, even though it works fine - the electricity follows the path of least resistance, which is the copper and not the water - but it does take a little leap of faith to understand you're not going to electrocute the guy down the hall sitting on the john. :)
That's why I love this place! Rarely does a log-in come and go w/out me learning something new, informative, and occasionally helpful <g>.
Thanks Stuart.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
I second this. I'm going to tear down an old garage, so didn't worry about roof leaks. Just had repeated shorts/blown fuses-- water got into cut ends of relatively new (I think) Romex, and really cooked things. Glad I tracked it down and shut it down-- it was a-sparkin' and a-smokin', and who wants a fire? H
The cut ends should be turned down, so rain won't run into them. Don't install any fixtures.
I've heard of guys doing this with satisfactory results. Maybe in a pinch.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
I second this as well. The sheathing is pretty darn impervious. That means it's just as hard for water to get OUT. See my other post. H
In some places you are required by the inspectors to have a dry roof before you start pulling wire. That can sometimes mean papered in if it is done well enough to not leave water spotting when the inspector shows up for the frame inspection.
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Yeah, here it's windows, doors, roof before any wiring. If they catch you getting an early start they'll have you pull it all out.
This is the case here, 'dried in' req'd before rough electrical installed (roof and siding or eq. installed). Or so according for more the inspectors than not.
Edited 1/31/2008 10:37 pm ET by peedee
There's a infamous story around here of a very hard-nosed electrical inspector that caught a contractor installing rough wiring before the roof was completed. He walked through the house with a pair of sidecutters and snipped every homerun 6" above the first box. Every run had to be re-pulled.
Bastid.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”