[cscscs]

Hoping to get some advice on the following. My home was built in 1976, the originally unfinished basement was finished at some unknown point, guessing prior to 1991. I moved in 4 years ago. Replacing a light fixture in the basement restroom, I have opened up a can of worms, found cable labeled "Type SJ 300 volts". Looks like this is basically heavy duty extension cord, not approved for in-wall use. It's also non-grounded (two-wire). I began pulling down some drywall to fix, but looks like other light fixtures in the basement are also wired with this, and replacing will be an extensive job.

Does anyone have any insight or thoughts on how dangerous this may or may not be? Would type SJ cable ever have been approved by code for in wall use (guessing no, and this was just poorly done). If I confirm the junctions are good, and this is only supplying light fixtures, should I just leave it alone (leave it as it has been for 20 or more years), or is this a potential ticking time bomb?

 

[jimn]

No it was never approved for in wall. It's designed for portable devices. Guy must have had source of SJ lying around . Costs more than NM. It would/should have never passed inspection and when in permitted work is done and it's done wrong like this usually means something else isn't quite right

 

[MrElectricianTV]

Hoping to get some advice on the following. My home was built in 1976, the originally unfinished basement was finished at some unknown point, guessing prior to 1991. I moved in 4 years ago. Replacing a light fixture in the basement restroom, I have opened up a can of worms, found cable labeled "Type SJ 300 volts". Looks like this is basically heavy duty extension cord, not approved for in-wall use. It's also non-grounded (two-wire). I began pulling down some drywall to fix, but looks like other light fixtures in the basement are also wired with this, and replacing will be an extensive job.

Does anyone have any insight or thoughts on how dangerous this may or may not be? Would type SJ cable ever have been approved by code for in wall use (guessing no, and this was just poorly done). If I confirm the junctions are good, and this is only supplying light fixtures, should I just leave it alone (leave it as it has been for 20 or more years), or is this a potential ticking time bomb?

What I see happening with cord hardwired into walls and such is the insulation becoming brittle and breaking off. It does not have the same composition as cables made for permanent installation. I would say the bomb has been ticking for 20 years, it could go off at any moment. Rip it all out. The next buyer of your house may find it and want it dealt with prior to the closing.