How much Romex do I leave sticking out of an outlet box?
Question:I'm rewiring a house. I tend to leave more cable sticking out than I should, but I don't want to be too short.
Answers:
if you are wiring your own house and are concerned with cost,, practice on a couple and make them up,,
4 to 6 inches are workable, however the shorter, the harder it is to work
if you need to get this done fast,,leave 6 to 8 and it will speed things up
note: I dont think the push in plugs are code still, and if not ,,they are not worth a flip anyway,,just mho
leave 4 sticking out remember to long your wrong to short you're just plain gone
Four to six inches- shorter if you're using the type of receptacles with push in, wire grabber type connections and longer if you intend to use screw terminal connections.
I would leave at least 6 inches. If you have to cut some off later, so what. It's better than coming up short.
Leave about 6 inches- gives you plenty of length to connect the outlet and the wire can still be neatly tucked in to the receptacle box.
You can leave as much as you like and stuff the excess back into the box or back through the wire opening. I like to leave a little excess in the wall as it helps when you need that little bit extra to either put in a new outlet/switch or to replace the box for some reason. There is nothing more frustrating that trying to install a new outlet when some idiot didn't have the forethought to leave enough wire.
Most building inspectors prefer to see 8" sticking out of the electrical box.
5 inches
by code six inches minimum
6 to 8 inch lets not quibble over 1 or 2 inchs
Canadian Electrical Code requires 6 inches or 150mm.
Article 300.14 of the National Electrical Code says 6 inches...remember that the Code is always the MINIMUM requirement.
You will find that 8 inches works very well. its easier to fold your wires in the box when they are longer, than try to cram in the shorter ones
NEC says 6 inches has to come out of the front edge of box. That is the individual wires, after outer sheathing is removed. On the side of the outlet is a gauge to let you know how much wire to strip bare, about 3/4 of an inch. Bend all three wires like a "Z" on it's side, and they will push back into the box easily after making connections.
bugs 300 has it right. a good 6 inches and cut off what you dont need. do not try stuffing a lot of wire in a box if there isnt room for it.
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