During home improvement services, cabling projects can sometimes come after wall finishing due to a couple of issues.
The process is generally referred to as snaking. It involves activities such as bending of cables, slithering through stud spaces, and some other small holes inside the framing, among other events during the fishing process.
When running these cables through the wall, you need to be patient enough to estimate whatever is below the wall surface. We have several approaches towards the installation of cabling through the wall, and we need to take some time to figure out some issues before beginning the whole process.
Most people do not have a real idea of how to go about these installation processes. Still, they wonder how technicians manage to lay a decent electrical network without damaging the entire walls.
Here are some essential solutions How to Run Wire Through Walls Horizontally.
How do you run the wire behind a Wall?
The process of running a cable behind the wall requires someone to consider personal safety. The process involves running wires behind the walls of homes or premises with the existing electrical network with power.
Turn off all the power outlets to all electrical circuits in all circuit breakers to ensure that no power energy is flowing in any of the extension cables before handling an individual power cable.
Using a pencil, make all the wall studs and create a workable wiring plan using the existing socket boxes and the studs’ network.
After locating the studs and the socket boxes, cut the small holes that access the studs through the wall and ensure that you allow some backing for the installation of the drywall cutout.
The procedure used to install the boxes. After obtaining the cables, feed its ends into the box while securing it with built-in clamps or any other separate clamp of a lock-nut type.
You can fit each socket box in its respective hole and use the necessary directions to secure it directly into the drywall.
Ensure that you pull the cable to an extra size of about 6 inches out to allow you secure handling during the final installation to the output sockets.
Wall patching
The process of wall patching takes place mostly when wiring is as close as 1.025 inches. The installation of a metal protector plate to cables on exposed stud edges is essential.
Wall patching is significant since it protects the wiring for exposed nails and other metallic objects that may interfere with the flow of current or unnecessary conduction. The patching plates can be fixed in place by hammering.
After patching, you can reinstall the drywall cutouts and hold them in place using drywall screws. Use joint drywall tapes to patch the wall, incorporate the drywall compound, its primers, followed by a matching paint to make the place uniform.
The Procedure used to Fish the wires through Walls
Now, it is time to fish the wires through the walls. Two people usually do this task.
One person can drive the fish tape to the drilled hole while the other one is timing the fishing cable from the other end, then grab the fish tape, pull it out of the hole at about a foot, attach the wire and allow the other partner to pull it back.
To attach the wire correctly to the tape, you need to strip it of its insulation and wrap it firmly around the hook at the tip of the cable fishing tape, then tape it using electrical tape to ensure that it has no bulges that can make it stuck or hard to pull through.
Taping also helps the wire not detach from the fishing tape while pulling it out, thus not starting over now and then. After pulling through the wires, you may need to cut the bent portion and through away, especially with coaxial cables.
What happens if you Drill into a Wire?
Drilling is a regular activity during the repair and installation of an electrical network simply because damaging the cables when drilling is a common phenomenon.
It happens mostly when a technician is searching for a cabling network location inside the finished wall. If possible, it is advisable to use automated finding equipment to locate cables inside the wall.
You must ensure that all switches are off before you begin drilling any part of the wall since getting in contact with a live wire may be fatal due to electrical shock or damage of electrical fuses and cause of blackouts due to circuit breaking.
You cannot repair the damaged cables by taping in case of damage from drilling. The majority of technicians always advise homeowners to reinstall new cables if the old ones got damaged.
Can I run wires behind the Studs?
Running wires behind the studs are okay, especially if you have a space between the walls and the studs. You don’t have to drill a hole for piping the wire through it.
All you need to do is staple the cable to the stud and make it comfortable. Ensure that you have enough space to swing your hammer when stapling into it.
Conclusion
Electric renovation is a simple but very delegate process that requires a lot of care.
The laying out of cables after wall finishing seems a bit challenging to many, but it can be one of the most effortless processes if instructions and the required safety measures are put in place.
With step-by-step procedures, you can easily install a decent electrical layout and provide a completely credible wiring system during your renovation process. Ensure that you are equipped with the necessary tools and equipment for the installation process.
Cabling tapes are very vital in joining cables and laminating the naked wires. Any loose and unprotected cable should be taken care of, to avoid unnecessary contacts that may lead to electric shocks.
As a technician, you should observe all safety measures when handling electrical cables and all the installation equipment, for example, multimeter; the power should be off when any installation process is in progress.
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