unused hot wire in wall

12-04-2008, 06:17 PM	#1
drewhart Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 233	unused hot wire in wall i have a hot wire that ran to a switch that i want to power with a new wire coming down from the attic. what should i do with old wire. its hot and it's on a ciruit shared with other outlets. can i just cut it, tape the end and leave it in the wall?

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12-04-2008, 06:20 PM	#2
rgsgww Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	unused hot wire in wall Quote: Originally Posted by drewhart i have a hot wire that ran to a switch that i want to power with a new wire coming down from the attic. what should i do with old wire. its hot and it's on a ciruit shared with other outlets. can i just cut it, tape the end and leave it in the wall? Nope, you can terminate it in the box that you are using for the switch. Or you can disconnect it at both ends and leave it dead in the wall tagged with "abandoned in place" You might burn your house down the way you suggested...

12-04-2008, 08:05 PM	#3
drewhart Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 233	unused hot wire in wall should i terminate it by twisting a wire connector around it?

12-04-2008, 08:37 PM	#4
220/221 Member   Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,294	unused hot wire in wall To be code compliant you need to terminate it in an accessible, covered j box. I'd tell you how to do it safely without a box but I don't want to start a whole thing.

12-04-2008, 08:46 PM	#5
rgsgww Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	unused hot wire in wall You said you were running new wire to the original box? just leave the old one in the box and put wire nuts on it.

12-05-2008, 09:13 AM	#6
drewhart Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 233	unused hot wire in wall should i just use the old wire? they are knob and tube. the new wire is romex.

12-05-2008, 11:10 AM	#7
handyman78 Res Ipsa Loquitur   Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 363	unused hot wire in wall I would replace any knob & tube anywhere I could- the covering/insulation on that wire doesn't have the quality of romex bought today. __________________ Did you ever stop to think, then forget to start again?

12-05-2008, 12:11 PM	#8
rgsgww Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	unused hot wire in wall Quote: Originally Posted by drewhart should i just use the old wire? they are knob and tube. the new wire is romex. Just cut the old wires at BOTH ends. You can leave DEAD lines in the wall.