Dropping an electrical line....

[theMezz]

I have a room on 2nd floor and want to drop a line into the basement ...
I found a way .. using the space around a radiator pipe in the crawl space..

It's not a big hole around the pipe.. but their is some space...

what do I use to drop the line?

I am first going to try a weighted string .. or should I use chain or something heavier .. and if that fails.. should I try a cable of sorts?

suggestions?

It is for a 5000-8000 BTU AC .. on a dedicated line .. is a dedicated 110 outlet ok?
should I use #12 or #14 wire?

thanks

 

[Reach4]

Is the breaker box in the basement or on the 2nd floor? Oh, wait. You want to run the line from the basement to the second floor.

A "fish tape" is the normal tool for fishing wires. I am not saying that running your cables along the radiator pipe is acceptable.

I would run 12 AGW, but 14 AWG is probably enough. 12 will give less voltage drop, but is a little less flexible. Any chance you might want 240 V for a bigger AC later?

 

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[ActionDave]

I prefer a chain or fibreglass rods/fish sticks.

The A/C unit will have a rating on it that you can use to decide what size wire to run.

 

[hj]

The amp load of the heater will determine the wire size. Electric heaters are usually rated by watts, not btu's. A sash chain is better because it will drop vertically, and you can snag the end with a wire hook if you miss the opening at the bottom.

 

[Jadnashua]

You do NOT want the wire running right next to a radiator line...the insulation is not rated for that, especially if it is a steam line. Now, if you can easily keep it separated from that line (make a hole nearby, but not through the same one), that probably would work. If you look at the insulation on any compliant wire, it will list the temperature range, and a radiator line can exceed that. Sometimes, it may be easier to run the wire up into the attic, then find a way down from there. If the new a/c unit draws more than about 12A, you should probably run a 20A circuit which would require 12g wire. The instructions will usually say what the supply needs to be, and yes, it should be the only thing on that circuit.

 

[ActionDave]

You do NOT want the wire running right next to a radiator line...the insulation is not rated for that, especially if it is a steam line. ...

Not really something I would worry about with modern ROMEX®.

 

[Jadnashua]

Not really something I would worry about with modern ROMEX®.

Many radiators run with 180-degree water, and if steam, will be a fair amount hotter. THey usually print the rating in degrees C on the cable, so that would be around 82C and could be either higher or lower. Might be fine, might not be, check to be safe.