I'm wanting to install a new circuit breaker and run 10/3 NM cable from attic and into the breaker panel. The is in a finished bedroom. How would I fish the Romex to the panel considering potential insulation and running into other wires? I don't want to remove the piece of drywall above the panel.
How to run romex from attic to breaker panel in a finished room
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Check with a stud finder and see if any fire stop blocking in the wall. If you find horizontal blocking then either open up wall around it or run THWN wires in conduit on outside and into the attic. You will have to transition back to romex in a junction box in the attic.
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If you get the rod style fish tapes, you might be able to push the rod up into the attic. It's a bit dicey to line up the hole through the walls top 2x4's. Fish stick tends to ride the stud up, but yeah insulation can easily change that.
If your panel box has any kind of opening at the top you could get your flattened hand into, you might be able to drop the fish stick down from the attic. It should catch up on the panel box top inside the wall so it's just a matter of getting a hold of it with your fingers and pulling it out into the box.
(I just did the latter for my speaker wires, cut rectangles into the bottom of my drywall to get my fingers in there and pull out the fish stick end. I was fitting my hand into even 1 to 1 1/2" tall slots and able to grab the end of the rod to hook up my wire.
I also did the former sort of; dropped romex from a new wall TV outlet down into an existing electrical box in the wall. I couldn't get the rod to make the corner to go up in the wall because of the breakout tabs angle. It was a bit tough because the holes in the box were only the size of my finger, but I was able to catch a chain that came with my fish rod kit, with a magnet and feed the rods through properly.)
If your panel box has any kind of opening at the top you could get your flattened hand into, you might be able to drop the fish stick down from the attic. It should catch up on the panel box top inside the wall so it's just a matter of getting a hold of it with your fingers and pulling it out into the box.
(I just did the latter for my speaker wires, cut rectangles into the bottom of my drywall to get my fingers in there and pull out the fish stick end. I was fitting my hand into even 1 to 1 1/2" tall slots and able to grab the end of the rod to hook up my wire.
I also did the former sort of; dropped romex from a new wall TV outlet down into an existing electrical box in the wall. I couldn't get the rod to make the corner to go up in the wall because of the breakout tabs angle. It was a bit tough because the holes in the box were only the size of my finger, but I was able to catch a chain that came with my fish rod kit, with a magnet and feed the rods through properly.)
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Whether it is an interior or exterior wall will likely determine if it has insulation or not. Once you have determined you have a clear stud bay (no fireblocks) and carefully measured to find find the correct location in the both the attic and the location at the panel, I have had good luck boring large holes top and bottom then using a large nut on a string dropped into the top hole. You can either use a rare earth magnet at the bottom to find the nut or just let the string 'puddle' at the bottom and pick it up with a piece of hooked wire. Use the string as a messenger line to pull the cable down. One problem (perhaps less with #10) is the tendency for the cable to curve. I tape a piece of metal rod to the end to keep it straight.
It's a bit like fishing - kinda fiddly and frustrating. It would probably be easier if I just went out a bought a fish tape or rods.
If it is in an insulated wall, sorry, no help. I've not done that.
It's a bit like fishing - kinda fiddly and frustrating. It would probably be easier if I just went out a bought a fish tape or rods.
If it is in an insulated wall, sorry, no help. I've not done that.
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