First time doing electrical work

[ImolaS4]

So i bought my new house with a 2 car garage and as my first project i decided to add more outlets to the garage. Originally there was only 1 wall outlet. I added 4 more outlets on the circuit. Guys at lowes were really helpful in showing me how to run, wire and hook up the new outlets. Now all thats left is patching.

 

[Jbullfrog]

What do you need that many outlets that close together for? Was the exhisting outlet on its own breaker? How are you going to patch the strip?

 

[ImolaS4]

Thats where the wirk bench is going. I will have a stereo plugged in there as well as a shelf that will have battery chargers on it for the drills and such. Then a free outlet for what ever i need. The point is they will be above the work bench. I swapped tge first outlet for a gfci that will trip the other outlets. As for patching we went back to lowes and got a $2 scrap sheet of sheetrock and cut the patches then taped and joint compound them in place. Ill sand then paint.

 

[aka Larry]

Guys at lowes were really helpful in showing me how to run, wire and hook up the new outlets.

Really? I'm more than The folks at the Lowes here don't know jack about jack.

For example, I bought a sheet of 4'x8' MDF and wanted it cut in half both ways. I had to show the guy operating the saw how divide by 2!

 

[MrMark]

You would have been better off cutting the wiring trench down low where no one will see the repair and fishing the wire up to use cut in boxes, preferably smart boxes. I wouldn't want a patch like that supporting outlets. Plus patching around those outlets will be a mess.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I don't mean to sound critical and hate to knock someone the first time they do something like this. From what I can tell from your pictures those boxes look like old work boxes, (the ones with the screw out ears on the top and bottom). You should have used the new work boxes (the ones with the nails) because you have all that sheet rock ripped off.

Other than that, good job and if you made a mistake here or there, look at the bright side. The best way to learn something is through your mistakes.

 

[MrMark]

That's a good point and sharp eyes. Those boxes are incorrect and I don't understand how you attached them. If you screwed through the sides at an angle, that is not allowable.

 

[Zeke]

While I agree that is going to be a tough patch, I don't think you guys are very charitable to a new member. Now, let's help him get some backing in there for the patch the easiest possible way. Myself, I'd place a flat 1 x 3 vertically to the right of each box and at the RH end and attach the patch with screws. I would do that even with the "flap" method.

http://www.diyonline.com/servlet/GIB_BaseT/diylib_article.html?session.docid=1673

 

[SonOfOC]

Good job for a first timer. As mentioned above, the box type is incorrect. Otherwise, it is not a tough patch at all. May want to consider texturing that entire wall so that it's look good and be extra careful with the dry wall screws.

 

[ImolaS4]

The boxes are the screw ear ones i didnt even realize that they had the nail ones till after i had two in. In the pics they are just sitting there. I screwed in the patch panel first then screwed the ears out. It seems to hold pretty firm.

 

[ImolaS4]

Thanks for all the input. Im a first time homeowner so this is a first of many learning experiences. Only been in the house for a week now.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

To finish the drywall, if it were me, I would unscrew the outlets and tuck them into the boxes or remove them altogether, then tape, mud and sand... It will make finishing a lot easier.

 

[hardhat]

What he said, I had to do about the same mud job you were doing in my garage after adding outlets. My stem wall goes up 3 feet so could only run wires horizontal. At least tape them up really well. Mud and dust gets in them and its a ******* to be careful around them.

 

[ImolaS4]

So heres an update garage is finished just moving stuff back in.

Before


During


After

 

[ImolaS4]

And one more with the first time the car came in to its new home hope the colors dont clash. Lol.

 

[ImolaS4]

Lights are in!

 

[rabidsquirrel]

That's a good point and sharp eyes. Those boxes are incorrect and I don't understand how you attached them. If you screwed through the sides at an angle, that is not allowable.

Yes it is, as long as there aren't any threads showing.

 

[MrMark]

Yes it is, as long as there aren't any threads showing.

Do you have any cite for that proposition? It is a violation of their UL listing.

Plus, a screw head driven at an angle is always going to be a violation as it leaves a sharp head exposed and yes, threads too. That is why smart boxes were created.

 

[rabidsquirrel]

Do you have any cite for that proposition? It is a violation of their UL listing.

Plus, a screw head driven at an angle is always going to be a violation as it leaves a sharp head exposed and yes, threads too. That is why smart boxes were created.

314.23(B)(1) 2011

(1) Nails and Screws. Nails and screws, where used as a
fastening means, shall be attached by using brackets on the
outside of the enclosure, or they shall pass through the
interior within 6 mm (1⁄4 in.) of the back or ends of the
enclosure. Screws shall not be permitted to pass through the
box unless exposed threads in the box are protected using
approved means to avoid abrasion of conductor insulation.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Nail heads and screw heads inside the box violate the intent of this section. There are plastic boxes made that comply with this by providing a protective barrier around where the screw is installed in the back and sides of the box, inside. They protect the head with a raised plastic area around it.

Charles

 

[Zeke]

^^^This is why I posted about acquiring some books on electrical. I have placed scores of boxes with screws going from the inside at an angle to a stud. This is where an old-work box would not work. I doubt I got the screws within a 1/4 " of the back or ends. I could have had I known about a relatively obscure provision of the NEC.

I mean I can see why a screw should not go through a box from one side to the other, but deep down on the sides with only the head showing? That's getting rather specific about a practice not even that popular.

Charles, you did get my PM?

 

[rabidsquirrel]

I take the 'ends' to also mean the front.