[morrison49th]

Hello all,

I had to extend the dryer circuit, to move the socket 1 ft. I took the existing wire and wire nutted the end to my new wire inside a square plastic box in the crawlspace. The wire was a 10/3 with no ground (so blck, red, wht). I think the dryer socket type is called 2 prong.

Incidentally I had an electrician in recently and I showed him it (he was there for something else), and he mentioned I might need to use a metal 2 gang box instead. Is this true? Currently I have this outlet http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-...gclid=CLWs-9now8oCFcZbfgodF-kPOQ&gclsrc=aw.ds and a single gang box like

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39499-53911..._clickID=60c489a7-cae8-7a48-523f-000036a87270

Does the electrical code require me to use a 2 gang metal box now I've touched the circuit?

Also to pass inspection, do I need to buy a faceplate?


I live in Washington State, Seattle area

Thanks

 

[jbfan]

Code does not allow a 3 wire dryer circuit to be extended.
The only correct way to do it run a new 4 wire cable from the panel.

 

[Arrow3030]

So you extended a wire that doesn't have a grounding conductor with a wire that does have a grounding conductor correct?
Two gang boxes are easier to use for this size receptacle.
You need a cover plate to pass final inspection.
Whether you use metal or plastic depends on whether the box is surface mounted or flush.

 

[joed]

You definitely need a face plate. You can't leave open junction box and be in code.

 

[morrison49th]

Code does not allow a 3 wire dryer circuit to be extended.
The only correct way to do it run a new 4 wire cable from the panel.

so I rang the inspector about this. At first he said I believed I would, and said he'll check. He then came back to me and said I wouldn't need to do that.

Do you think he's wrong?


Thanks

 

[Jim Port]

The ungrounded circuit needs to be upgraded to 4 wire once you extended it.

 

[rjniles]

He is wrong by the NEC but he is the AHJ. Also that never was a compliant installed using NM cable. Or is it a metal jacketed cable?

 

[morrison49th]

So you extended a wire that doesn't have a grounding conductor with a wire that does have a grounding conductor correct?
Two gang boxes are easier to use for this size receptacle.
You need a cover plate to pass final inspection.
Whether you use metal or plastic depends on whether the box is surface mounted or flush.

Yes I did. So a 4 wire meets a 3 wire in the crawl space.

It's now a single gang pastic box. The box is currently flush with the drywall (well it will be when the drywall goes up).

Have I done anything naughty?

Thanks
Thomas

 

[Jim Port]

The box is most likely too small cubic inch wise.

 

[morrison49th]

He is wrong by the NEC but he is the AHJ. Also that never was a compliant installed using NM cable. Or is it a metal jacketed cable?

compliant installed? You mean I did something I shouldn't?


Here is some pictures of my *great* work. I cut the ground away on the 10/4 wire as the 10/3 wire it matches doesn't have ground. Is this against NEC? Am I going to fail inspection? You can see the blue box behind the socket. You're telling me this is too small, and will fail inspection?

http://pasteboard.co/12WxeIY3.jpg

http://pasteboard.co/12WqCqup.jpg


Thanks

 

[Arrow3030]

I do think he is wrong. I would think he'd at least tell you to extend the grounding conductor to a bonded water pipe. How hard is it to get to the panel? Using a modern wiring method will always trump extending "rag wire" or any other antiquated wiring method.
Nothing naughty but it's much better to have a two gang because you will have plenty of box fill and as Jim pointed out, you'll exceed or be close to box fill with a single gang.

 

[morrison49th]

So I currently have a blue box

http://pasteboard.co/12WxeIY3.jpg

Do I need to replace it with:

a metal steel box (like http://www.graybar.com/store/en/gb/...a:google-_-googleshopping-_-gb5079-_-90061855). If I want to mount this to a wood stud, do I simply just use the screw holes on the side. Will that be strong enough? All the guides and videos using steel boxes use metal studs (or have metal boxes with brackets), which I don't have.

 

[Jim Port]

That is not a single gang box.

I too will say that the inspector was wrong according to the NEC.

The cables need to be secured within 12 inches of the box.

You never cut the ground off.

 

[morrison49th]

That is not a single gang box.

I too will say that the inspector was wrong according to the NEC.

The cables need to be secured within 12 inches of the box.

You never cut the ground off.

Think I miscommunicated about the box, please re-read my previous post. Basically do I need to change from blue -> metal?

 

[morrison49th]

btw when I said 10/4 earlier I think I meant 10/3 with a ground wire (I thought the ground wire contributed to second number in 10/X). Can't seem to edit my post