While remodeling, I disconnect plug receptacles and light switches from the knob and tube electrical system and install romex with new boxes, receptacles, switches, and light fixtures. The old wires are no longer in use in this location, but the wires are still live and connected to the circuit that services other rooms in the house. I put small wire nuts on the ends of the old wires that have been disconnected to insulate the live ends. My question is this: do I need to put these old loose wires in a box with a cover plate that is accessible, even though they are no longer in use, or is it OK to leave them buried in the walls as long as the ends are wire nutted and secured with electrical tape? If a box is needed, can I put the old hot wires in a box and leave the neutral wires buried in the walls, or do they both have to go inside the box?
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Replies
John
I can give no electrical information other than if in doubt, contact a licensed electrician or your bldg. inspection dept.
However, as a remodeler I can tell you that you should never bury anything that is live or has the potential to become live at a later date due to someone powering something back up.
I work back from things I want to kill-and make a permanent disconnection at that point. Now everything still left in the wall that is no longer needed is forever disconnected and not able to be reconnected (without repowering that end of a circuit).
Knob and tube is especially critical to work with as they need to usually be exposed as heat dissapates from the wiring. Covered in insulation or buried and potentially touching is not a good idea.
Having live wires terminate is an inacessible loaction is never a good idea.
Technically, the wire-nutted ends should be in accessible boxes. (I'd use non-metalic boxes, since otherwise you must very carefully sleeve the wires to keep them from shorting to the box and making the box hot.)