The first order of business was to undo the web of 1960's conduit in the old soffit. All wiring must be inside a wall to pass current national electric code. Chuck spent Monday tracing wires, drilling holes in the studs and figuring out where he could put connections to modern romax in place of the old steel clad cabling.
1961 wiring hidden in soffit
1961 electrical conduit
On Tuesday, the Crew2 project manager checked in and said we needed to sign off on the building permit to allow for the dry wall. At that moment, we realized we needed to have an electrical permit as well. I checked our city website and the dire warnings about acquiring a permit before beginning work and the fines involved caused our hair to stand on end. So on our way to the home store to buy parts, we stopped by city hall and acquired a home-owner electrical permit for $16.00. The clerk asked if we want to schedule our rough-in inspection today. We said we hadn't started yet, and she laughed and complemented us, saying most homeowners don't realize they need the permit until they are already done. We scheduled an appointment for Friday.
My Dad is a retired EE and former electrician. Chuck called him for advice frequently, as well as asking the helpful electrical department employees at Home Depot for information on current codes. A very new NEC (national electrical code) calls for tamper resistant, GFCI outlets in kitchens, and each must be accessible within 24 inches on a counter-top. Additionally, all counter top circuits must be 20 amp. Fortunately, we had updated our main electrical breakers six years ago and were able to accommodate these requirements. I must say, having a plug-in every three to four feet sounds awesome! We had relied on power strips to electrify our 1961 kitchen until now.
Chuck worked through the week and by Thursday night felt ready for the inspection, although worried a bit from a negative past experience with a over-zealous and controlling inspector. We had studied the city handout well and installed nail plates and made sure the Romax was 1.5 inches inside the studs. The inspector passed the rough in (RI) with a couple of minor suggestions to be fixed. Romax wires should be stacked in-side the staples instead of placed side by side and one minor re-wire between boxes. So Chuck rewarded himself on Friday by seeing the opening of the Prometheus movie while I chaperoned the last field trip of the year for our third grade daughter. The required electrical changes were completed by Friday Evening. Next project; insulating the outside walls.
My Dad is a retired EE and former electrician. Chuck called him for advice frequently, as well as asking the helpful electrical department employees at Home Depot for information on current codes. A very new NEC (national electrical code) calls for tamper resistant, GFCI outlets in kitchens, and each must be accessible within 24 inches on a counter-top. Additionally, all counter top circuits must be 20 amp. Fortunately, we had updated our main electrical breakers six years ago and were able to accommodate these requirements. I must say, having a plug-in every three to four feet sounds awesome! We had relied on power strips to electrify our 1961 kitchen until now.
Chuck worked through the week and by Thursday night felt ready for the inspection, although worried a bit from a negative past experience with a over-zealous and controlling inspector. We had studied the city handout well and installed nail plates and made sure the Romax was 1.5 inches inside the studs. The inspector passed the rough in (RI) with a couple of minor suggestions to be fixed. Romax wires should be stacked in-side the staples instead of placed side by side and one minor re-wire between boxes. So Chuck rewarded himself on Friday by seeing the opening of the Prometheus movie while I chaperoned the last field trip of the year for our third grade daughter. The required electrical changes were completed by Friday Evening. Next project; insulating the outside walls.
Kitchen electrical rough-in
kitchen rewire
Electrical work is nice and neat.
RSS Feed
