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Brittle insulation

6K views 23 replies 15 participants last post by  sparky402 
#1 ·
Got a job that i just need to replace a light and all the wiring in the box the insulation is breaking off. Any solution without new wiring.
 
#4 ·
Cut the ceiling open. Install a non-metallic octagon near the fixture box. The goal is to get back to good wire. Splice new wire onto old wire in the new box, and run the new wire to the existing fixture box. Use the new fixture's canopy to hold up a medallion of sufficient size to cover your new splice box and any plaster wounds, but don't glue or nail the medallion up. Just like you were never there, except for a medallion that they may or may not have wanted.
 
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#5 · (Edited)
As MDShunk advised. Can be a nightmare as often there are several wires in the ceiling box. That would be several j-boxes - up to a foot away (need good wire). Not bad if an attic.

Edit: Best to sell a $11,000 re-wire. Tell the owner all the light outlets are the same (they probably are). Or offer to sell him a dozen or so smoke detectors.
 
#12 ·
Fordsnfishin said:
That sounds absurd.
might be but it works. If it's an old 14 u take a piece of 12 thhn and strip it's insulation and slide it on the old 14 conductor. Better then tape. Like I said not legal but it works. Also better then ripping someone's house apart in a pinch. Normally run into it in old houses in old light fixtures. By all means if u can get back to good wire do so but u can't sometimes.
 
#20 ·
You can usually get to good wire. Ripping someone's house apart is often the way to do it.

My experience says the wire has big problems in the box and it travels back 6 or more inches.

Fire is such a bitch.
 
#14 · (Edited)
what about the liquid tape that you brush on. Anyone ever use that.
Scotchkote? Hell, there's even a Scotchkote smiley face floating around here.

On a serious note, I don't think I would because that stuff dries really brittle, and I don't think it would stand up to the conductors being moved-around during any future work.
 
#15 ·
I don't think Skotchkote is rated for use by itself anyhow.

All I need to do is look at a can of that stuff and I get it everywhere. I can't imagine trying to use it inside someone's finished home, over my head. I think one stray drop of that stuff covers about 50 square feet. :laughing:
 
#21 ·
Back in the 80's, canopy lights for gas stations (those surface mount 2x2 MH fixtures) had a 105C requirement for the conductors. The manufacturer would send a 105C sleeve to slide over our 90C conductors entering the fixture. I don't know if that would be compliant or not for this application, I just wanted to mention I came across them in the past.
 
#23 ·
Sometimes it possible to drop the box, pry the staples loose with a screwdriver thru the hole, and gain an extra 10" of cable to strip . I then install a deep octagon in it's place .
 
#24 ·
Shockdoc said:
Sometimes it possible to drop the box, pry the staples loose with a screwdriver thru the hole, and gain an extra 10" of cable to strip . I then install a deep octagon in it's place .
Yea i wanted to something like that but the drywall was really bad and about to fall so i didnt wanna be the guy who did it. And attic was to small to get that far to do it from above
 
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