Looking for a specific type of nail
- Thread starter trigd
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Speedy Petey
Well-known member
Those are plain old romex (NM cable) staples. You'll find them in the electrical aisles of ANY home center or hardware store.
pattenp
Well-known member
I like these better.
I like these better.
I don't.
Around here if you see insulated staples it screams DIY & usually poorly executed work.pattenp
Well-known member
Don't take this personal, but that's really dumb.
I don't.
gatchel
Well-known member
I always thought a staple was a staple. To be a fence sitter, I like the ones that are metal staples with the blue plastic protector just in case.
4xdog
Well-known member
My brother, a senior electrical engineer with a number of semiconductor manfacturers before forming his own company, knew the NEC by heart and was a perfectionist electrician. He was perfectly OK with the plastic/wire nail Romex clips.
And my house has some professional rework in places where uninsulated staples like the first post are driven crosswise and bent over or are missing half the joist in places.
It's way overgeneralized to dismiss a simple staple and the work done with them based on the design.
And my house has some professional rework in places where uninsulated staples like the first post are driven crosswise and bent over or are missing half the joist in places.
It's way overgeneralized to dismiss a simple staple and the work done with them based on the design.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
This is a widely accepted opinion in the trade. Only with these white ones though.I don't.
Standard insulated throat metal ones (like the blue ones) are very common with professional electricians.
I have NEVER seen nor heard of any qualified professional electrician use those white ones.
IMO they are complete garbage.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
You cannot blame poor workmanship on the material.
rquackenbush
Well-known member
So other than professional bias, is there anything wrong with them? I've had to pull out a number of the old metal ones because they were driven in too far by a "pro" and were cutting into the romex.
MrMark
Well-known member
I like them better than the plain metal staples as the "pro's" tend to overdrive them. I use the throat insulated ones usually, but I think the white ones are probably the best but they are more work (read require tapping in one both sides rather than one huge smash), and most importantly they cost more, hence the pro's don't use them.
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I have no complaints about those other then higher costs, I learned my lesson 30+ years ago about overdriving staples.
Flatland Dave
Well-known member
The use by "professional" electrictions might have to do with speed. One staple to drive -vs- two nails.
The Romex was a point in the right direction - I appreciate it. I am looking for these EXACT staples. Not interested in anything else... I'm getting a new home built and looking to put in some wiring myself that I know won't be allowed. Plan on keeping to code, but trying to mimic the builder's procedure as close as I can so as to not bring any attention to my work.
I had the idea of it being in the electrical section and looked at both a couple local Lowe's and Home Depot and came up with a bit fat goose egg. I'll go back now that i'm armed with a name.
Any possible online purchasing of such? I'll keep looking
I had the idea of it being in the electrical section and looked at both a couple local Lowe's and Home Depot and came up with a bit fat goose egg. I'll go back now that i'm armed with a name.
Any possible online purchasing of such? I'll keep looking
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G_P
Well-known member
If its not allowed how can it meet code? Code tells you what is and is not allowed.
Are you trying to fool the inspector into thinking the builder put the wire in?
Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2
Are you trying to fool the inspector into thinking the builder put the wire in?
Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2
Hawk
Well-known member
G_P
Well-known member
Gotcha. What about this wiring makes it not allowed? Electricians can almost always find a way to do it if you ask.
It's all home networking and home theater wiring that will stay within the wall till we've moved in. My opinion is that if I get it in right before insulation, as long as the insulation and drywall crew doesn't speak up, it'll be in the wall permanently till I make outlets of them. Electrical inspection should be right before insulation as my understanding goes.
Angelfire
Well-known member
I did something similar but with the full blessing of my electrician. Mine was all data comms which has a much looser method of install. Personally, if I were your builder and found out you tried to sneak **** by, I'd be well pissed! Not to mention he and his electrician are now liable for any mistakes you may make that burns the house down. Not cool.
Just do it right the first time. Use appropriate staples for these home networking runs that you want to put in . . . with full knowledge of electrician . . . . and plan out boxes that sheetrockers will finish out just like other cutouts.
For a particular room that might be centralized computer hub of sorts, you might even want conduit in walls so that Cat 5e/6 might even be pulled out later for fiber !
I'd also install conduits from attic down to unfinished room in basement that would serve as homerun distribution center for all internet / CATV / satellite / phone, etc. - - - thus easy pulling antenna wires, etc.
No need for shortcuts.
For a particular room that might be centralized computer hub of sorts, you might even want conduit in walls so that Cat 5e/6 might even be pulled out later for fiber !
I'd also install conduits from attic down to unfinished room in basement that would serve as homerun distribution center for all internet / CATV / satellite / phone, etc. - - - thus easy pulling antenna wires, etc.
No need for shortcuts.
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Speedy Petey
Well-known member
Nope. You're not playing that card. Cost has NOTHING to do with it.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
WOW! Just wow.
Those damn contractors are SO greedy.
I truly hope the electrician says something to the inspector during trim out when it is blatantly obvious that someone added wiring after the rough inspection.
bczygan
Well-known member
The DW crew will notice the additional wire. They may wonder why you don't have boxes and ask the C if he wants it covered. If you put in boxes, they will cut around them and they will be there for all to see. Chases are also problematic.
If you are running Romex, and you connect to the existing work, he will see it later, in his boxes. If you leave it in the wall, you will need to make holes and fish to connect it later. Do you have enough time to run the data wire between different subs? Sure you won't run into a supt. checking the job, or even a worker? Subs talk to each other.
If you are running Romex, and you connect to the existing work, he will see it later, in his boxes. If you leave it in the wall, you will need to make holes and fish to connect it later. Do you have enough time to run the data wire between different subs? Sure you won't run into a supt. checking the job, or even a worker? Subs talk to each other.
Coolerman
Well-known member
I understand why you want to do it yourself to save a bit of money. My electrical contractor was more than willing to let me do all the alarm, video, satellite and network wiring. I built a log home and wiring one can be very labor intensive and time consuming. He truly would have charged me a fortune to do all that work. He allowed me to ask all the questions I wanted and also inspected my work to ensure it met his standards. When the house was inspected it all passed. Talk to him, you may be worried about nothing.
I think the issue might be a truly custom home and a home built by a builder. The latter makes you commit to electrical at a certain date and you cannot change things after the date. I have a feeling thins is the case. If this is a custom home, then I would just have them do it. Would likely never be an issue but if something ever did happen then there would be no paper trail of the wiring and who did it. So it must then be the homeowner and their liability.
You are dead on. This is a spec home where we picked our options at the very beginning and locked those in. The home theater system i'm blatantly trying to save cost because their price for a simply 5.1 rough in was near a grand, and that's without hardware. The home networking option wasn't even offered to us.
I knew I'd get flack for this, but that's alright. After seeing this much negative response, I think i'm going to change my plan a smidge and call up the super. Calling the "electrician", I believe, is far outside the realm of possibility. This is a very large subdivision and I've been paying attention to all phases of homes being built before ours. Every single subcontract group is Mexicans (this is AZ). I have no problem with that, but I think there is little English to no speaking.
Steevo
Well-known member
I had a tract home under construction in the 1990's, and had already committed and signed for all upgrades and modifications. I decided that I wanted to run low-voltage wiring for network and surround sound, much like you.
I went to the job site, and tracked down the electrician who was the EC for the job, and discussed with him what I wished to add, and asked if he had any subs who might be able to do it as a side job before the sheet rock went in.
He hooked me up with one of his guys, who was more than willing to do a Saturday job running wire and hanging boxes. I supplied him all of the materials and paid him cash for his time.
I also happened to catch the floor guy just before they laid the entry tile, and talked him into laying it with a square border row and a diagonal field, which took a little bit more time, but was worth the $100 I handed him when I asked him to do it.
The only thing I ever "sneaked in" was a half-dozen 2x6 blocks between a couple of ceiling joists for a future hanging cabinet.
I went to the job site, and tracked down the electrician who was the EC for the job, and discussed with him what I wished to add, and asked if he had any subs who might be able to do it as a side job before the sheet rock went in.
He hooked me up with one of his guys, who was more than willing to do a Saturday job running wire and hanging boxes. I supplied him all of the materials and paid him cash for his time.
I also happened to catch the floor guy just before they laid the entry tile, and talked him into laying it with a square border row and a diagonal field, which took a little bit more time, but was worth the $100 I handed him when I asked him to do it.
The only thing I ever "sneaked in" was a half-dozen 2x6 blocks between a couple of ceiling joists for a future hanging cabinet.
G_P
Well-known member
Ahh Audio and network cable would be totally different than romex. Someone would notice it for sure. Especially the lack of boxes as the drywallers would not want to be liable for covering over wires dead ending in the walls.
I dont see why the builder wont let you do it as its not like network/speaker cable is going to set your house on fire unless you do something really crazy and stupid.
I agree with CNG. Run conduit. Network tech is always upgrading and conduit would make it really simple to pull new wires or replace old ones with fiber optic or whatever else comes along.
I dont see why the builder wont let you do it as its not like network/speaker cable is going to set your house on fire unless you do something really crazy and stupid.
I agree with CNG. Run conduit. Network tech is always upgrading and conduit would make it really simple to pull new wires or replace old ones with fiber optic or whatever else comes along.
LX-Markham
Well-known member
If this is a house you're purchasing from a builder, you aren't even allowed on the property.
But, go crazy, use the staples.
But, go crazy, use the staples.
uncletater
Well-known member
To be honest. If you have to ask what type of nail that is then maybe you should not wire a damn thing. Your GC is right you need to have them do the work or get a company to come in after the house is built.
Dont piss off your GC or your EC.
Dont piss off your GC or your EC.
Even though I got a lot more grief from you all than I expected, I took the advise and talked it over with the GC. He gave me my blessing to do it myself and suggested the exact plan I had in mind - get in after his electrician and before insulation crew. He wasn't concerned with low-voltage stuff like this...
So thanks for the hard-earned advice.
So thanks for the hard-earned advice.