Is this code?

[Nick Danger]

A contractor is fixing my house. He's putting junction boxes inside the ceiling. Is that legal?

The previous owner had house wiring running through a duct from the cooler on the roof. I'm getting new ductwork. The wires were re-routed. But is this code? The wood on the bottom is going to support the new ceiling.

Inside the box is wire nuts. You can just see what he said is a splice above the box.

There is a matching box on the other side of the duct.

 

[rust buster]

Not in any states I've lived in. Junction boxes have to be accessible. I'm not an electrician though!! Is there actually a junction or is it just a housing for unused wires that terminate in the box?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The question is whether the j boxes will be accessable after he’s finished.

 

[Nick Danger]

The question is whether the j boxes will be accessable after he’s finished.

They will be above the ceiling.

 

[mm08822]

They will be above the ceiling.

If you mean above permanent ceiling that requires demolition to access then it's ng.

These would be code approved instead of buried pancake boxes.......

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NSi-Ind...2-Conductor-Cable-with-Ground-NMS-2/307358259

 

[Toomanytools?]

They will be above the ceiling.

Then I believe that is not accessible and not code, no way for someone to know if it's up there in the attic. Should be placed in ceiling with access cover.

 

[Norcal]

That pancake box screams hack work, nothing right about any of it. The contractor say they are good at 'lectrician work? If it is for a swamp cooler, it works great to have conduit between the cooler & the switch so a selector switch for high cool / low cool/ pump/ high vent/ low vent, can be used, it is a real cluster f to use NM cable "Romex®" in a multi speed application.

 

[Nick Danger]

That pancake box screams hack work, nothing right about any of it. The contractor say they are good at 'lectrician work? If it is for a swamp cooler, it works great to have conduit between the cooler & the switch so a selector switch for high cool / low cool/ pump/ high vent/ low vent, can be used, it is a real cluster f to use NM cable "Romex®" in a multi speed application.

Not for the swamp cooler. That wiring is just passing through. It powers a bedroom.

I told the contractor that I wanted splices instead of the boxes.

 

[TRWham]

J box has been discussed.

Exposed NM in a duct/plenum is not allowed (see 300.22). There are several solutions to the problem, but the best is to go around the duct.

 

[Nick Danger]

The exposed NM in the duct is what we found when we opened the ceiling. The junction boxes are the contractor's solution for going around the duct.

I don't think he's an electrician.

 

[pattenp]

Here's another non-junction box solution...…..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Electronics-Romex-Splice-Kit-2-Wire-1-Clam-A22899-000/202204326

 

[rlitman]

If you mean above permanent ceiling that requires demolition to access then it's ng.

These would be code approved instead of buried pancake boxes.......

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NSi-Ind...2-Conductor-Cable-with-Ground-NMS-2/307358259

Agreed. What has me really confused is that I see one of these splices hidden behind the pancake box.

 

[Nick Danger]

They re-routed. This is how it looks now.

He said that he used a 3-conductor splice for the hot, hot, and neutral wires. He used a 1-conductor splice for the ground wire.

 

[Nick Danger]

The joys of being at work while someone is remodeling your house. My wife sent me the photo and is doing the face-to-face conversations.

 

[PCustoms]

That looks like ****.

If he had to splice on both sides, he should have run a longer jumper and made it look neat.

Also perplexed by your description. Pretty sure the single NM-B (H,N, G) needs to go in 1 splice, and rhe splice should have proper terminals.

 

[mm08822]

They re-routed. This is how it looks now.

He said that he used a 3-conductor splice for the hot, hot, and neutral wires. He used a 1-conductor splice for the ground wire.

I don't use those connectors I but thought they were only available for 2 conductor cable (2 conductors + grd).

If you are saying he used 2 connectors at each splice location for a 3 conductor cable - then it is just another hack job.

Also pic not too clear. I don't see 2 connectors on each end. It looks like 14-2 is used between connectors?? If so, where is the 3rd conductor?

 

[mm08822]

Agreed. What has me really confused is that I see one of these splices hidden behind the pancake box.

Yeah, I saw that too. Pancake boxes are cheaper!

 

[Nick Danger]

I don't use those connectors I but thought they were only available for 2 conductor cable (2 conductors + grd).

If you are saying he used 2 connectors at each splice location for a 3 conductor cable - then it is just another hack job.

Also pic not too clear. I don't see 2 connectors on each end. It looks like 14-2 is used between connectors?? If so, where is the 3rd conductor?

I'm confused too.

A lot of the house is wired with three conductor cable. I thought that is what he said is there. But that's not what it looks like in the picture.

 

[radio63]

That looks like ****.

If he had to splice on both sides, he should have run a longer jumper and made it look neat.

^This.

Also vibration from that duct rubbing against the cable could eventually wear through and cause a short circuit.

 

[Falcon67]

Pic 3 might be OK if it's plenum rated Romex.

 

[Nick Danger]

^This.

Also vibration from that duct rubbing against the cable could eventually wear through and cause a short circuit.

Mrs Danger says the cable isn't actually touching the duct.

 

[TRWham]

Pic 3 might be OK if it's plenum rated Romex.

They make that with unicorn hides for the sheathing.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Mrs Danger says the cable isn't actually touching the duct.

Sure looks like its touching to me

 

[Bert_]

I would rather have a buried j box made up good and tight with wire nuts than those inline splices. I know the code allows them but I wouldn't feel good about using them.

 

[Nick Danger]

The ceiling is closed now. That's how it's going to stay.

Thank you all for your help. I appreciate it.

 

[Jazz1]

You might get away burying junction boxes but in the event of a fire that box would void your insurance I would think.

 

[rharman]

The question is whether the j boxes will be accessable after he’s finished.

Just so I'm clear on this...

If there is attic access, then you're OK with junction boxes in the attic space?

It's only an issue if they end up in an inaccessible space, correct?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here's another non-junction box solution...…..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tyco-Electronics-Romex-Splice-Kit-2-Wire-1-Clam-A22899-000/202204326

I recommend these on a job that would have required running wire to a j-box in an unfinished basement ceiling. Electrician did not believe they were approved to be "buried" in a wall until I showed him the installation instructions and the UL approval.

 

[tfi racing]

This entire thread is some kind of joke, isn't it?

 

[tonyciambrone]

This entire thread is some kind of joke, isn't it?

God I hope so, but April was a long time ago.

 

[ard]

So I guess the local inspector signed off on the wiring eh?

 

[mm08822]

So I guess the local inspector signed off on the wiring eh?

what inspector?????????????

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just so I'm clear on this...

If there is attic access, then you're OK with junction boxes in the attic space?

It's only an issue if they end up in an inaccessible space, correct?

This has nothing to do with me.

If the j boxes are accessible no matter where theyre at then its code permissible.

If theyre inaccessible then its an issue as you asked

 

[Crazyjake8493]

what inspector?????????????

Maybe this "contractor" is also an "inspector"

 

[rharman]

Just so I'm clear on this...

If there is attic access, then you're OK with junction boxes in the attic space?

It's only an issue if they end up in an inaccessible space, correct?

This has nothing to do with me.

If the j boxes are accessible no matter where theyre at then its code permissible.

If theyre inaccessible then its an issue as you asked

It was a "royal" "you're". Meaning the homeowner - not directed at you.

Thanks.