I'm looking at converting part of my basement into a home theatre. (This has led me to look at the whole electrical wiring in the house and I can see it needs an overhaul.)
The area in question has a few electrical receptacles and a set of lights. I want to add three more receptacles and two more sets of lights. I have a few basic questions:
1. Can I use the same circuit for the new lights and receptacles? Can I put in a new circuit from the breaker? Is there a rule on how many circuits you can have from a breaker (I have plenty of free slots but only 100A supply).
2. I plan to use 14/3 and 14/2 NM cable for power and lighting but I've seen some cables with metal sheathing. When do I need metal sheathing?
3. Most receptacle boxes are metal but I've seen PVC ones as well - which should I use?
4. I've checked how to fish the new cables - in some areas it would be impossible to secure the cable (without ripping the walls/ceiling down). Is it OK to leave the cables loose?
5. Can I run 3 or 4 power cables together? i.e. in the ceiling if I tape the cables together and fish them as one cable it would be much easier but it means leaving them all taped together and unsecured to joists.
6. One of the junction boxes will have 6 or 7 cables - what is the best way to join these? Do I just marrette them all together or is there a limit? How big a junction box do I need?
7. At present a junction box used for the lights has another circuit (i.e. on a different fuse), which seems dangerous to me (I was inspecting it with the fuse for the lights off only to find it had power). Is this safe or should I move it to another box?
8. The same circuit provides power to other areas in the basement and ground floor. The wiring, done originally in the 1950's but obviously with several changes over the years, is very confusing (but clearly works). Are there any guidelines on how many receptacles and lights are on the same circuit and which rooms should be on the same circuit?
9. On one other circuit some of the receptacles have no ground - should I replace these to provide a ground? (The receptacle has a ground socket but no ground wire - which sounds dangerous to me - if I can't replace the wire is there a way to make these safer?)
10. I have been told that a few of the circuits are aluminum (most are copper) - is it easy to see an aluminum circuit and should I replace these?
11. Is there any harm running speaker cable together with power cable?
Sorry for so many questions - any suggestions much appreciated.
The area in question has a few electrical receptacles and a set of lights. I want to add three more receptacles and two more sets of lights. I have a few basic questions:
1. Can I use the same circuit for the new lights and receptacles? Can I put in a new circuit from the breaker? Is there a rule on how many circuits you can have from a breaker (I have plenty of free slots but only 100A supply).
2. I plan to use 14/3 and 14/2 NM cable for power and lighting but I've seen some cables with metal sheathing. When do I need metal sheathing?
3. Most receptacle boxes are metal but I've seen PVC ones as well - which should I use?
4. I've checked how to fish the new cables - in some areas it would be impossible to secure the cable (without ripping the walls/ceiling down). Is it OK to leave the cables loose?
5. Can I run 3 or 4 power cables together? i.e. in the ceiling if I tape the cables together and fish them as one cable it would be much easier but it means leaving them all taped together and unsecured to joists.
6. One of the junction boxes will have 6 or 7 cables - what is the best way to join these? Do I just marrette them all together or is there a limit? How big a junction box do I need?
7. At present a junction box used for the lights has another circuit (i.e. on a different fuse), which seems dangerous to me (I was inspecting it with the fuse for the lights off only to find it had power). Is this safe or should I move it to another box?
8. The same circuit provides power to other areas in the basement and ground floor. The wiring, done originally in the 1950's but obviously with several changes over the years, is very confusing (but clearly works). Are there any guidelines on how many receptacles and lights are on the same circuit and which rooms should be on the same circuit?
9. On one other circuit some of the receptacles have no ground - should I replace these to provide a ground? (The receptacle has a ground socket but no ground wire - which sounds dangerous to me - if I can't replace the wire is there a way to make these safer?)
10. I have been told that a few of the circuits are aluminum (most are copper) - is it easy to see an aluminum circuit and should I replace these?
11. Is there any harm running speaker cable together with power cable?
Sorry for so many questions - any suggestions much appreciated.