What To Do With An Extra Hot Wire or Cable
Safe Keeping for Spare Electrical Wires and Cables: Spare electrical wiring must be dealt with properly to avoid danger. |
Safe Practices for Spare Electrical Wires and Cables
Electrical Question: The previous owner in my home finished the basement and added a large closet.
- I have taken down the closet and now when rewiring I have realized that I have an extra wire that is coming from the breaker and is hot but I don’t need it.
- What would be the safest way to dismantle this wire? Also technically I’m not sure if it comes from the breaker I just know it’s live.
Thanks Josh
This electrical wiring question came from: Josh, a Homeowner from Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Josh.
Safe Keeping for Spare Electrical Wires and Cables
Spare electrical wiring must be dealt with properly to avoid danger.
The live wire may have been installed for a future closet light.Safe Keeping for Spare Electrical Wires and Cables You may also reroute the wire into another electrical box and just cap off the wires. The other alternative is to trace the wire back to its origin and totally remove it.
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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments
2 Responses to “What To Do With An Extra Hot Wire or Cable”You must be logged in to post a comment.
I am installing a ceiling fan. There are 4 sets of wires coming into the electrical box mounted in the ceiling. I only need the one for the wall switch. How do I safely deal with the other wires? Do I connect all the same color wires or do I connect the positive, negative and ground wires together that are coming from the same lines?
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Hi Robert,
There are several variations and methods of electrical wiring. The wires you have described are important and have a purpose that can only be identified by using a voltage tester and some circuit logic as it pertains to your home. Typically when there are several wires in a junction box such as this it may be discovered that some of the wires are for the incoming circuit power, outgoing circuit power, and wiring for the wall switch.
I hope this helps,
Dave