Adding light, options for running wire?

[RoadBeater]

Well, it's not a garage question, but the honey do list has to be done before any garage time...

I am wanting to add a can light into my kitchen to improve the lighting. I have an existing light, and want to add a can light about 4 joists over. This is in between the first and second floor, however, there is a sewer line running in the area, that I can fish a snake thru. I am wanting to run the wire on the outside of the pipe, but in between the existing hole in the joist. Is this okay? Will the wire need additional protection?, Should I run a UF wire since it's heavier coated?

This would be the cleaner install, but the other option is: I could fish a wire to the wall, run wire mold down the wall, then reenter the ceiling and fish it back to the center of the room. This wouldn't look as good, but could be safer? I have a picture of what it looked like prior to drywall. The red line is what I want to add.

Any other thoughts? Thanks for the insight.

 

[mrb]

do you have carpet above? I had to do something similar once, pulled the carpet up, cut access holes in the floor, installed 1x iumber around the hole to set the cut out piece on to screw it back down. Much better than messing up the drywall on the ceiling.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm inclined to think...no....reason being...if it is a metal pipe and there is any movement...it could fray the insulation and eventually make the pipe hot....

Patching drywall is not that hard....I think it would be safer to cut out a section of ceiling and then patch it up when done.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I'm inclined to think...no....reason being...if it is a metal pipe and there is any movement...it could fray the insulation and eventually make the pipe hot.....

I'm willing to bet that is black plastic (ABS) pipe. No one has used iron in AGES and those floor joists are the new built up kind, probably in use only in the last 15 years or so.

In any case, I doubt there is room for the wire. I suspect from looking, the pipe is a rather close fit in the joists.

Charles

 

[MrMark]

Charles, not that it matters, but plumbers in the know still use cast iron where it passes through levels in high end homes for noise abatement reasons. Cast is a lot quieter than plastic for flushes.

That looks like plastic in the picture though.

 

[RoadBeater]

Yep, it's a plastic pipe, built in 99. I was able to get a fish tape thru, except for the last joist. That where I am thinking about cutting an access hole in the floor above to help it thru. The last joist has the Y right at the joist and I think that's where it's hung up. Luckily it was in a closet, so it is doable, I am just wondering if I should be concerned about any relative movement over time, each time someone flushes, or house moves, etc.... going thru the same spot as the pipe.

 

[tfi racing]

If there is enough room between the ABS pipe and the OSB for the NMD to slide through without forcing it,I would say go for it,I doubt that pipe will ever vibrate enough to cause any issues.Having said that,I'm sure the next poster will insist your new potlight be connected via 2'' threaded rigid conduit and 3/0 copper just to be on the safe side...

 

[Berserker]

I wouldn't worry about running romex next to the pipe. The stuff is pretty tough. I wouldn't worry about movement either, any more then any other place. The house is not going to move fast enough to fray the wire.

 

[mobetta]

one problem is that ceiling pan in the pic is only rated for 1 cable. so technically you cant add another wire to it.

another option is to get a remodel drillbit- about $40 at your homers/lowes.menards, etc.

they are a long flexible bit which allows drilling and fishing wires in this circumstance.

 

[RoadBeater]

Appreciate all the input. I ended up cutting a hole in the floor, coming down from above and found out where the wire snake was stuck, I drilled thru the last floor joist. Then, since I had some extra UF 14, ran that for extra protection. Mobetta was right, it was difficult, but I did manage to make the connections in the box. The little box was set up for a ceiling fan and a light, so it had an extra switched hot that I tied into for the new lights. I am glad I didn't try to hang a ceiling fan off of that light, would have been flimsy.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[rdsk8ter]

Do not run uf cable indoors the jacketing is toxic in case of a fire...... I laughted really hard when someone told me this while it may be true if theres a fire dont you consider it to be a bigger threat then the melting insulation on the wire hmmmm running the wire next to that pipe is fine no worries and a good trick for those that might try this later with this type of rafter raither then the drill bit take a small section of 1/2 emt bend it lightly over the distance giving you a slight curve. take a hammer and it taps right through the rafter. Then you use it to pull your wire through then when the wires through pull the conduit back out the way it went in its like you drilled the holes and ran it through works great.