Leaving a box unused when installing new eletrical

[jtbinvalrico]

I looked.....maybe I don't know what to call it when searching, the closest I can find is talk about "abandoned" electrical on forums with some references to the NEC.....

If you're installing a subpanel and running emt and boxes, what's the word on leaving a box unused? Specifically, my plans call for a lift. That lift will be hard-wired with a dedicated 30a breaker in the new subpanel. That lift won't be installed until after this subpanel install is done.

Can I go ahead and branch off of my emt run (it's headed that direction anyway) and run the wires to a box that will be used in the future? Is it ok to run the wire but not connect them in the subpanel? Can I cap them with wire nuts in the subpanel and in the box until I'm ready to wire up the lift? Should I instead run the emt and place the box, but not put any wires in until the lift is in, then call out the inspector on a new permit? What might an inspector say about an empty box that's obviously gonna be used for something in the future?

Thanks.....This is Hillsborough County Florida, Tampa suburbs, they use the 2011 NEC here.

 

[mrVanagon]

There shouldn't be any problem with a future-use box. Just cap the wires in the j-box and put a blank cover on it. In the panel I like to either cap the wires or connect them to their breaker and leave it off. Can even label that breaker "future use". I've done this sort of thing before.

 

[vavet]

They ran a dedicated circuit to my bathroom when we built the house. It's to be used for a heated tile floor at some point.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

They ran a dedicated circuit to my bathroom when we built the house. It's to be used for a heated tile floor at some point.

Did they connect it to a turned off breaker and label it as suggested above? Or did they cap the wires in the panel and tuck them to the side?

 

[Falcon67]

They ran a dedicated circuit to my bathroom when we built the house. It's to be used for a heated tile floor at some point.

They ran wire for a 2nd plug in our master bath. Apparently the sheet rocker's covered it anyway. Found the box 2 years ago when I cut a hole for a second plug on the vanity - proximity tester says the wires buried in there are hot. One day I'll have to dig it out.

 

[APEowner]

There shouldn't be any problem with a future-use box. Just cap the wires in the j-box and put a blank cover on it. In the panel I like to either cap the wires or connect them to their breaker and leave it off. Can even label that breaker "future use". I've done this sort of thing before.

I prefer to connect the wires to the breaker but I don't know why.

They ran wire for a 2nd plug in our master bath. Apparently the sheet rocker's covered it anyway. Found the box 2 years ago when I cut a hole for a second plug on the vanity - proximity tester says the wires buried in there are hot. One day I'll have to dig it out.

That, is not cool.

 

[6768rogues]

When I did inspections, I accepted wires terminated by being safely capped and covered with a blank cover, without regard to whether they were connected at the other end to a breaker.

 

[Falcon67]

I prefer to connect the wires to the breaker but I don't know why.



That, is not cool.

What was worse is that they used the copper as a return for the switch leg to the vent light. That got corrected ASAP.

 

[prostreetamx]

You can have empty boxes as long as they are covered but dead end pipe runs are not allowed without some form of plug or cap on them. This prevents you from putting a fish tape into the pipe and ending up in a hot panel without some extra effort.

 

[APEowner]

What was worse is that they used the copper as a return for the switch leg to the vent light. That got corrected ASAP.

Yikes!

 

[alfredeneuman]

Spares are good things !!

NEC 90.8 Wiring Planning.
(A) Future Expansion and Convenience. Plans and specifications that provide ample space in raceways, spare raceways, and additional spaces allow for future increases in electric power and communications circuits.......

 

[tyme2par4]

I believe proper practice is to tie the hot and neutral together with a wire nut in the box. That way if anyone ever ties to power up that circuit, it will immediately trip the breaker. If you just cap each line individually, you end up with hot wires that aren't attached to anything.

 

[Orionrising]

Agreed I short them together. Same with dead wires I am abandoning in the wall.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[alfredeneuman]

I believe proper practice is to tie the hot and neutral together with a wire nut in the box. If you just cap each line individually, you end up with hot wires that aren't attached to anything.

And what's wrong with hot wires that aren't attached to anything in a box?

You should ALWAYS test to see if they're dead

 

[AntonLargiader]

I believe proper practice is to tie the hot and neutral together with a wire nut in the box. That way if anyone ever ties to power up that circuit, it will immediately trip the breaker. If you just cap each line individually, you end up with hot wires that aren't attached to anything.

I'm having a hard time believing that's any kind pf proper practice. What's so wrong with a hot and neutral sitting in a box waiting to be used? Why add the complexity of a deliberate short that needs to be troubleshot and repaired before you can get on with what you're doing?

 

[OH_Varmntr]

I believe proper practice is to tie the hot and neutral together with a wire nut in the box. That way if anyone ever ties to power up that circuit, it will immediately trip the breaker. If you just cap each line individually, you end up with hot wires that aren't attached to anything.

Proper practice by whom?!

 

[reader2580]

My electrical inspector didn't like having a currently unused line still attached to a breaker. His concern was someone turning the breaker on and then someone working on the circuit later without checking the breaker. (Pretty stupid if you don't check breaker first.) He didn't fail me for this, but he said I should remove wire from breaker until needed.

I don't currently have a dishwasher, but I have a space for one. The unused line is for the dishwasher when I do get around to buying another one. I ran low on money during kitchen remodel so I skipped the dishwasher since I used the one in my other house maybe once a year.

 

[mrVanagon]

A box behind a future dishwasher is easy. Put a single plug receptacle in the box and connect it to the breaker on the other end. When you add the dishwasher put a cord set on it and plug it in.

 

[alfredeneuman]

A box behind a future dishwasher is easy. Put a single plug receptacle in the box and connect it to the breaker on the other end. When you add the dishwasher put a cord set on it and plug it in.

Many jurisdictions require that a dishwasher be hardwired

 

[mrVanagon]

Where I am, a cord set is a pretty typical thing to find on a dishwasher.