How to extend wiring by about a foot?

[steve]

New cabinets will cause the Stove to be repositioned about 1 foot to the right. The wiring that went to the light / exhaust vent is to short to reach. The wires just came out of a hole in the wall, no box there.

What's the best way to extend these wires?

Can I just put wire nuts and tape them?

I'm not sure if there is a stud in the way? I'll explore the hole tonight. If I have to get on the other side of the stud I may see if I can pull the old line and run a new line from the attic.

Is it "normal" to not install a box and just run the wires through a hole in the wall and into the back of the stove vent.

TIA

Steve

[Old Fangled]

"steve" wrote in news:o-idnRNDNppJfbnbnZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

Pull a new wire from the source point (breaker box or junction box).

No! That's a fire hazard (and completely illegal).

Not even close to normal.

[Zephyr]

Don't think that's normal, but, you can easily fix it by putting in one of those boxes that install into a finished wall with the tabs that flip up and hold the back of the drywall. Then you can make a regular junction and extend the wires as much as you need.

Dave

[bill allemann]

Like zephyr posted, you need to add a box. The junction (wire nuts, etc) need to be accessible, so you can put a blank style switch cover over the box, and do not cover up the box with a cabinet, or whatever.

bill

[steve]

So how do I get the wires from the box in the wall through the punch-out that's on the vent?

There was no box in the wall originally. Just the wires coming out through a hole in the wall directly into the old Stove vent.

Thanks

Steve

[Zephyr]

Steve, take the wires that run thru the hole and have them end in the new box, then get some additional wire and have the new wire connected to the existing wire inside the box, and from there into the vent unit.

you can extend the wire all you want, as long as the connection is made inside a box. which is supposed to be accessible, hence the blank faceplates and no cupboards in the way.

Personally, as long as you have to have a box in the wall anyway, you might as well make it an outlet while you are at it.

old wire outlet new wire vent

-------------------[ ] ------------------------------[ ]

Dave

[RBM]

If you can pull the cable up into the attic and reroute it to the new location, that would be fine. If it's not long enough to reach, you can install a junction box in the attic and run a new, longer piece of cable down to the new location. Typical kitchen fans DON'T have boxes behind them. The cable just comes through a hole in the wall and attaches to the exhaust fan unit via a cable connector, which you install in the knock out provided

[John Grabowski]

Never!

Yes with the proper connector on the hood.

If I remember correctly the current National Electrical Code permits the use of cords, plugs, and receptacles for a hood fan. If the wire is long enough, bring it up inside the wall to the cabinet above the stove and install a receptacle there. The same way that it is done for microwave ovens. Then you can add an appliance cord and plug onto the hood and drill a hole in the bottom of the cabinet to bring it up to the receptacle. If you ever decide to change over to a microwave, the power will already be there assuming the circuit can handle it.

[sym]

yes its normal not to use a box for the fan/light above the stove. the hood is the box. it is probabaly being fed by a nearby recept. i would try to find where it is fed from and disconnect it and try to run a new line from the basement,or recpt located in the same bay as the fan, the attic may be another option. if you havent put in the new cabinets yet you can cut a strip of drywall behind where the cabinets will be drill the studs and run wire from nearest recpt, providing there is enough room in the box to for them. it is likely to be the same recpt that now feeds it.

[Terry]

You might be able to locate a new junction box inside the cabinets. Use another piece of romex to wire the fan.

Not having a box for the fan is common, but not legal by the code.

[Steve Barker]

Surface mount box, make the extension connection there.

[RBM]

The junction box that makes it legal is built into the fan

[RBM]

What you say is probably more common than not, however the NEC prohibits wiring kitchen exhaust fans tapped from a kitchen outlet circuit

[RBM]

John, my guess is that most of the condos in NY are wired that way too. NEC

210.52 (B)(2) only allows exceptions for clock outlets and auxiliary equipment attached to gas cooking equipment. I checked both 2005 and 1999, although it could be something that's going to change in the next edition

[sym]

yup good ole nec. authority having jurisdiction really can keep ya guessing especially when you work in differnt jurisdictions.

[Bud--]

The 2005 NEC had an addition for hoods. An outlet is allowed but required to be on an "individual branch circuit". A code change book says this is aimed at combined hood-microwave units, but it covers plug-in hoods even if the cabinets would not allow installation of a microwave. The change is concealed at 422.16(B)(4).

An outlet is a nice fix and I would ignore the "individual" circuit (but if this will be inspected check with the inspector).

-- bud--