Break up the walls or not

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DIY

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When a rewire is done to all outlets in a house (small 2/1 house 16 outlets total) Do the outlet boxes need to be changed? If so why? Right now there are metal/aluminum type boxes that are 2"Wx3"Hx2-1/4"D that have been in here since built 52 years ago.These outlet boxes will only have household duplex receptacles 15 or 20v in them as they did before with an addition of a ground wire.

Thanks all!!

p.s. can anyone tell me of a good wiring book to get that addresses questions like above and more? Much appreciated!
 

rgsgww

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You don't necessarily have to break up the walls, with enough patience and time, you may be able to fish and install new boxes.
 

Billy_Bob

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Those boxes are very shallow!

A problem occurs with the addition of a ground wire to these old boxes, especially when there are two ROMEX® cables going into the box.

I would use a "pig tail" with a screw on it and screw this into the metal box, then connect this to the ground wires from the two ROMEX® cables and a length of ground wire to secure to the outlet ground connection.

So you have all these ground wires and two ROMEX® cables to "cram" into that small space!

Then if you are running 12 gauge wire, this would be even more fun! (Harder to bend back into the box).

On the other hand you could use a plastic deeper box. Then not need the ground pigtail plus have more room.

Sort of like packing a trunk for vacation and the car is a VW bug as opposed to a large car.

Here is more on this depending on what size wires and how many wires...
(Google search: NEC Box Fill)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nec+box+fill&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=
 
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TedL

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When I rewired my 1930's vintage house, I broke out the existing small metal boxes, prying apart with a big screwdriver. Replaced most with "old work" boxes, but also mounted some new metal boxes to studs with screws.

The opening, big enough to get my hand in, made fishing the new cable a lot easier. Also gave me appropriate clamps in the new boxes.
 

DIY

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break up walls or not

Thanks for the replys all.

Billy bob the outlet box size was a concern issue with me to. Of the 16 outlets total there are about 4 or 5 that have two 12-2 cables coming in,and the GFCI'S being added will both definately get changed to deeper and probably wider plastic boxes ( "old work" carlon boxes) all the other boxes have a single cable coming into them,and were ok'd to stay in place i was told. If anyone knows different let me know.Much appreciated!
 

Jadnashua

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I don't know this for sure, but a rewire probably also means a LOT more outlets. I don't think they will let you get away with just replacing the existing ones...you'll need to do the gfci for the bathroom/outside/garage/basement, maybe afci for the bedrooms, and come up to code on spacing for the outlets in the room as well. While you are at it, a/c powered (with battery backup) smoke detectors.
 

TedL

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Your count of boxes with "home run" supplies does not add up if your service is the 60 amp total with 4 glass fuses.

But you could have 20 circuit breakers, and it would make sense.
 
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