Dangerous Light Fixture Add-on

[Reborn]

I took a light fixture off to look around for obstructions prior to running speaker wire through the ceiling, and was horrified to find what you see in the picture - no cover on the junction box. The white romex coming into the box (properly) is from the builders - this light fixture was put in during construction. Prior owners added the grey romex, went through about 3-4 joists, and added another junction box for an add-on light fixture. I just can't believe people would be this stupid and dangerous - there is an unused knockout! What possible justification was there to do it this way?

The fix seems simple enough - go get a fitting and cover and run the grey romex through the available knockout. I'm just frustrated to see this - we have been in the home for 11 months, and this is pretty f'n dangerous.

I'm mostly venting, but also looking for input on the way they ran the grey romex through the joist - is that ok, or should there be some kind of fitting to prevent the sharp edges of the wood from potentially damaging the wire? I can bet the (new) romex is not affixed per code, but I'm not too concerned about that given the short run length.

 

[dave*99]

The wood will not damage the Romex (NM).
Since the NM was snaked through the joists, there is no code requirement to affix the NM to the wood structure, However, an approved NM connector is required at both ends of the cable.

 

[Dagny]

Iv'e been an electrician for forty years. That is nothing, what amazes me is how a building can be much worse than that and never burn down.

 

[Dagny]

The gray wire is UF.

 

[Reborn]

The wood will not damage the Romex (NM).
Since the NM was snaked through the joists, there is no code requirement to affix the NM to the wood structure, However, an approved NM connector is required at both ends of the cable.

Thanks, that helps.

Iv'e been an electrician for forty years. That is nothing, what amazes me is how a building can be much worse than that and never burn down.

I know it's not much in the grand scheme, but I'm a very careful guy, especially with electricity. And it's obviously been fine for 8-10 years, by my estimate.

The gray wire is UF.

Thanks. Any issues running it above ground?

 

[johnnyradiant]

I wish that was the worst I come across when I am asked in to a place.

Then there are the ones where everything for the most part is ok and you pop a cover to find a melted glob of a wire nut on some wires that were not tightened properly but everything else is all neat and tidy with no signs of a hack job. Fortunately because the box was loaded ok, and the cover on, it probably prevented a call to the fire dept.

 

[acer66]

Thanks. Any issues running it above ground?

No issues.

 

[Chucktin]

Hah. In our new-old-house I found 2 live(!) cables hanging loose from the hack job "renovation". God only knows what else I'm still due to find.

 

[Reborn]

No issues.

Thank you.

I wish that was the worst I come across when I am asked in to a place.

Then there are the ones where everything for the most part is ok and you pop a cover to find a melted glob of a wire nut on some wires that were not tightened properly but everything else is all neat and tidy with no signs of a hack job. Fortunately because the box was loaded ok, and the cover on, it probably prevented a call to the fire dept.

Hah. In our new-old-house I found 2 live(!) cables hanging loose from the hack job "renovation". God only knows what else I'm still due to find.

Scary stuff. It does have me thinking to spend a saturday pulling each of the lights down to really have a good look, but I'm trying to temper myself with some logic, and maybe only look at areas where they likely tapped into for new light fixtures that were not part of the original build.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Really the only thing that bothers me there is there Romex not entering the box through a knockout and secured with the clamp. Other than that I've seen far, far worse.

 

[rburke65]

Just take it apart, instal” a romex connector and reconnect wires.

 

[rlitman]

The gray wire is UF.

Technically correct. However, UF can stand in for NM in any place NM is acceptable. UF is just more difficult to strip.

Just take it apart, instal” a romex connector and reconnect wires.

+1 That's it.

 

[Reborn]

Yup, will pick up some nm connectors and have a request in with the manufacturer of the housing for a new cover. thanks all.

 

[jacric2005]

Found over last couple years during house reno. One is old wiring to range hood and one is old wiring to switch in office. I had a licensed electrician come in and fix. It's an adventure with and owner built home.

 

[Jay H 237]

Nothing outright dangerous there, not to code, but not dangerous.

 

[manwithtools]

Agreed, have seen much worse in the house I own now .....

 

[b-boy]

Yup. You should be OK. I agree though, sketchy stuff like that blows my mind. It would take an extra 60 seconds to do it right.

 

[PLOWJEEP]

People that don't know what they are doing, work harder to do something wrong.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

If it does not fit in the box, use an extension and a cover.

 

[CJ7VFR]

People that don't know what they are doing, work harder to do something wrong.

1000 times yes, yes, yes!

It amazes me how much extra time and money people waste by not doing things the right way the first time.

I wonder if the person installing the UF took the cover off the box, removed the metal tab for the knockout, and figured he would run the wire thru the hole and hook it up.

But then got lazy, hooked up the wires and realized WTF, I forgot to run the wiring thru the knockout. Oh well, who is going to see it up here, and left it.

Jim

 

[bigdav160]

Agreed, have seen much worse in the house I own now .....

Like copper wire connected to aluminum wire with a scotchlok? Then stuff into the insulation?

I would have taken a picture but the smoke was pretty thick in the attic.

 

[Reborn]

So it took a while, but I've resolved the issue. I reached out to the manufacturer, who took a while to get back to me due to the holidays. Turns out they couldn't send me a cover, despite having some in the Mexico warehouse. Rather than waste more time going through authorized distributors for the cover, I bought the exact housing on ebay for under $20 shipped as a cover donor. End result: proper installation.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Like copper wire connected to aluminum wire with a scotchlok? Then stuff into the insulation?

I would have taken a picture but the smoke was pretty thick in the attic.