Am I doing this right?

[DARKSCOPE001]

Hey guys im installing some electrical outlets in my basement but I wanted to make sure that im doing this correctly.

First off before I did this they were orrigionaly just light fixtures for small screw in lights (I only had two of them so the basement was always poorly lit) So now I want to put some bigger outlets down there so I can connect shop lights.

First thing I did was shut of the power. Then Checked with my volt meter to make sure there was no power. Took out the old light fixture, and "removed" the old j-box (work box whatever you want to call it) Now here is where things get fuzzy for me and I raise questions.

First off is this ok to do? before I do anything else I want to make sure this is ok and im not violating some code of somesorts.

Second Its black to brass correct? and white to silver and bare copper to green? I tried plugging my router in and it fired up just fine after doing the first box but I wanted to make sure.

Lastly I need some help with the box Im working on right now. It has 3 pieces of romex (I think thats what its called) all ganged up inside of it. One is the supply and two go to different circuts.

Well because they were lights when they were installed the guy just twisted the grounds all togeather and they arent even close to straight. Can I just put one of those twisty things on there and put a piece of ground wire running to the ground on my switch? Because thats how they ganged up the positive and negative wires. But I just wanted to make sure.

Im going to upload pics to show what I mean. Thanks guys. I made this post in haste so if any of it is unclear just let me know and I will try to make it understandable.

 

[5lima30]

You may want to invest in a circuit analyzer. They are about $6.00. You plug it into an outlet and it will tell you if it's wired properly. BTW I have found outlets in our new house that were installed by an alleged electrician that had the hot & neutral wires reversed and disconnected ground wires. (Those outels would function but could wreak havoc on computer equipment.)

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

hmmm I might have to do that. I deff made sure that the grounds were connected. And as long as black to brass and white to silver its all good. The one j-box where everything joins in and comes togeather was a beast to get all the wire stuffed so I might have to go back and rework it. Im just worried i have to much wire stuffed into that box.

Do they make high capacity work boxes? or is there a less mess way to gang all the wires togeather?

Thanks
Sean Scott

 

[MrMark]

That box is at its limit with 3 romex I believe. You would have to look and see the cubic inches of the box.

Here's how you count

count each conductor coming into the box: you have 6 I believe (three 12/2 cables)
count 1 for all gounds.
count 0 for no internal clamps
count 2 for one device installed in that box

That's 9 total.

Multiply that by 2.25 for 12 gauge wire: 18+9/4= 20.25

Now check your box.

You would need to go to a 4S metal box with a mud ring to get nice capacity.

I do this with every box I wonder about.

Read about this interesting discussion here

http://ecmweb.com/nec/code-basics/electric_box_fill_calculations/

You are doing everything right that I see.