wire next to copper plumbing pipes - DIY Chatroom

abc · 01-31-2008, 10:41 PM

I'm installing a light fixture in a closet. the switch will be on the inside wall. The opposite side of the wall is a shower wall. When i opened the hole for the switch, i found the water supply pipes for the shower. Any problem positioning a switch behind a shower wall or running romex 14/2 cable next to a copper water pipe?

nacko · 01-31-2008, 10:49 PM

its generally not cool to have the wire in direct contact with the water pipe, but other than that its ok. If it worries you, put a gfci breaker in for that circuit at the electric panel, then if the switch somehow gets wet at least it should trip before frying someone.

Speedy Petey · 01-31-2008, 11:01 PM

There is absolutely no issue with having wiring in a wet wall. Even if the pipes burst, the boxes will do an adequate job of keeping most of the water out.
Besides, if a pipe bursts that bad the wiring is the least of your worries.

nacko, I am curious as to how someone would get "fried" because the wiring in the walls or the switch got wet.

nacko · 02-01-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

nacko, I am curious as to how someone would get "fried" because the wiring in the walls or the switch got wet.

read my post again, I don't think I said anyone would get fried, I said "if it worries you, it should trip with a gfi before anyone gets fried". that is, after all, the intent of the functionality of the gfi.

Speedy Petey · 02-01-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nacko

.....then if the switch somehow gets wet at least it should trip before frying someone.

Sorry, I took this to imply someone could actually get "fried".
I was just wondering how this would happen.

nacko · 02-01-2008, 07:32 PM

one would hope that if a conductor were to come in contact with heavily ionized water that it would short to ground prior to causing a shock to someone, say taking a shower, but who's to say it never happened ? (I've never heard of it happening either)

adave · 02-02-2008, 01:01 PM

You can put some pipe (sponge) wrap around the copper so the pipe is isolated from the romex. You can feed it through the opening, just wrap it around a portion of the pipe that's exposed and feed it up/down as far as possible.