I need to run a 14 gauge wire up to a duplex plug on a raised foundation.

Otherwise , I believe the original wiring comes down from attic

AC Romex ? Inside ? Outside ?

What are your code requirements ? In most cases you're required to protect wiring with at least EMT (metal conduit) that is installed on a Foundation. In some cases you have to use waterproof conduit.

Research carefully. Every town and city has a different code basis.

Turn off the power to the outlet.Remove the outlet from the box.
Carefully knock out the old electrical box with out damaging the drywall.
Get an "old work" electrical box.
Drive a nail or drill a small hole through the floor to mark the location of the outlet.
If you drill leave the bit in the hole so you can locate it from the crawl space.
From the crawl space drill a hole up it to the wall.
Fish your new wire up into the wall from the crawl space. You can use Romex
Once back inside pull your wire out through the outlet hole.
Place the wire or wires in the "old work" box then put the box in the wall.
Tighten the lugs on the box.
Attach and install the outlet.
Turn power back on

Drywall?, I wish. This is lathe and plaster. Hard stuff. But technique could be same . If. I'd is metal I may want to use same box. I just want to run a 14 gauge wire to ground

With prayer, good karma and a rabbits foot you may be able to get the wire through both holes with out removing the existing box.

Outlets require 12 gauge wire. 14 gauge used to be used to do lighting runs but, I think the code went to 12 gauge because people would add an outlet to a light circuit.

20 amp fuse or breaker need 12 gauge wire.
15 amp fuse or breaker can use 14 gauge wire.
Sounds like Microman might just be running a single wire down for grounding only. 14 gauge wire in box already is a good possibility since he has lathe and plaster. Check the amps for that circuit at panel. Still verify the gauge wire in at outlet and make sure the proper size fuse or breaker is being used.

That said, I might use 12 gauge just for the fact it won't curl up in wall while trying to fish the wire down. Find wall and drill a larger hole underneath to make it easier and then caulk or fill with foam once done.

On a side note, if panel is a Federal Pacific, you should change this out with a newer one. Those panels are dangerous.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2012 02:59PM by slbett.

If I was going to run just a single wire, I'd get a long drill bit (I bought a 3 foot long one from Home Depot), then take the wall plate off, put the bit at the bottom side of the box (outside of the box, not in it), angled as sharply as possible.

I'd drill down, hopefully within the wall and through the floor plate and into the crawl space. I'd wiggle it around in the hole while it is running, to make the hole a bit wider going through the floor plate. Then, I'd leave the drill bit in place, go into the crawl space, find the end of the bit and wrap a wire into the flutes of the drill bit for 5-6 inches. I'd be sure that the wire was small enough to completely fit in the flute. I'd tape the whole thing together with a single wrap of electrical tape for the length of the area where the wire is in the flute of the drill bit.

Then I'd come upstairs and carefully pull it back up, hopefully with the wire attached. If it was a smaller wire than needed for the ground, I'd attach the appropriate wire to the end of the pull wire and pull away. Then, pop out a knock-out from the box and thread the wire into that hole and screw it off.

If the wire doesn't come back with the drill bit, I'd sigh deeply, drink a beer, then put fish tapes through the bottom with a hook and from the top with a hook and try to catch the hooks and pull it through.

If that didn't work, I'd tear out the old box and then the fish tape from the bottom would be easy.