Looks Like I Have Some Patching To Do

[crokett]

Ugh. Started tracing the wiring in the shop. In one spot I was staring at 5 wires coming out of the top plate and a different # coming out of the switch box and wondering if I should just cut into the wall. I decided to try my multimeter and check them for continuity. I was able to match the first 3. It looks like it will be quicker just to cut into the wall and trace them all that way. I wish I'd had more time when I took it down so I could have done all of this then.

[cgallery]

You may want to pickup a toner and inductive amplifier, like the telephone and networking guys use for tracing telephone wiring. The same devices can be great for power lines, too, as long as none of them are energized.

[crokett]

I was out there wishing I had one. I think about it but I am also thinking it might be quicker just to rewire a lot of it. For example, there are switches on either side of the door. One set was for the shop, one set was for the office that I won't have so I can abandon that set, or at least ignore it until I might need them some day. The outlets I know I need to cut into the sheathing and rewire those. The overhead lights also need to be rewired. I took all the wiring and boxes down when I dismantled it. Plus if I actually open things up and do the work I know how it's done if ever there is a problem.

[pelligrini]

You'd probably be better off opening them up.

Those tone devices are really handy. I picked up one from HD a few years ago and I really do love it. Mine has connectors for RJ-45, coax, phone & a alligator clip. I use it on my home and office network. It was really handy when my wife decided to move the entertainment system without labeling any of the surround sound wires.

[TB Roye]

David

Tank the time and get it wired correctly then you will know where everything is behind the wall. I went to hang a lumber rack on the wall of the garage and found a unprotected live wire in a stud. Opend up the wall and found a mess. The garage was a train room before the owner put up for sale, all they did was wire nut the wires and stuff them in to the wall and covered them up with drywall. Wondered why I could never find all the outlets on the sub panel. The sub panel wan't ever labled.

Tom

[crokett]

Tom,

I decided I am gonna do it that way. Although so far the wiring looks pretty good. They even wrapped electrical tape around the switch terminals in the boxes.

[cgallery]

They even wrapped electrical tape around the switch terminals in the boxes.

The mark of the anal-retentive electrician. Nuttin' wrong with that, my electrician does the same thing.

[unknown poster]

I've had success with one of those $10 sticks that lights up and beeps in proximity to a live AC wire. I just flip off each circuit until my stick stops beeping, then I know what wire goes to that circuit. Next wire do the same thing. For just 5 circuits this isn't too hard. I hate sanding drywall so I would avoid opening the wall if I didn't have too.

Apparently the correct name for these "sticks" is Non-Contact Voltage Detector. Here's one example:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...-11&lpage=none

[crokett]

When my grandpa's multimeter died I went and got another kit that includes the no contact guage. It works but you still have to be careful. In any case, kinda tough to use it on my shop since there are no breakers in the panel yet, just a lot of spaghetti.

I was out there looking things over with a beer and at least for the outlets it will be easier just to open the walls and pull new wiring. I am going to abandon a lot of the existing and/or remove as much as I can. He had a lot more circuits than I will. For the overhead lights, that all must be redone since it came down to get the roof off.

[Hellrazor]

The mark of the anal-retentive electrician. Nuttin' wrong with that, my electrician does the same thing.

That or the mark of someone who likes to work on stuff hot...

[Dutchman46]

Wiring?

You can also do the same with a continuity tester. You would use a long wire and connect to the wire that you must trace. (THIS IS DONE WITH THE POWER OFF) Then check for the wiring the box. You will tell where it is coming from when the continuity tester meter is high. Note, Turn all the switches off, when trying, or you can trace the sub wires.

[crokett]

No problems with turning the panel off - there are no breakers in it. I should take a picture to show you all what I am dealing with. It is an explosion of spaghetti. I can probably (and will) trace 4 or 5 of the circuits at the panel but there are another half dozen that I really have no idea where they go. Unfortunately, at the time we took it down I did not have enough time to trace the wiring and label any of it. I am paying for it now. I decided over the weekend just to cut the sheathing back on the long walls. I need to do that anyway to reconnect the receptacle boxes.