Electricity: Surface Wiring

If you can’t run cable behind walls and ceilings, an easy alter native is to install surface wiring in which wires travel through metal or plastic channels or raceways attached to walls and ceilings. With a one-piece metal raceway, you still have to fish wires through the raceway. Two-piece metal or plastic raceways have snap-on covers that eliminate the need for fishing wires. Check local codes before starting this project.

Components aren’t interchangeable among brands. These are the general steps:

• Select an existing receptacle with excess capacity to power the circuit extension.
• Plan and mark the raceway path and box locations.
• Determine the amount of raceway needed and the number and type of boxes and fittings needed.
• Turn off the power. Remove existing receptacle from its box. Screw the base of outlet extension box to the existing wall box.
• Cut raceways to length using a hacksaw and install bases of all new boxes. Attach one-piece channels with clips or fasten bases of two-piece channels.
• Install wiring in raceway.
• Wire and mount all new devices and fixtures.
• Rewire and mount existing receptacle in outlet extension box.
• Install channel, elbow and connection covers as necessary.

Outlet Starter Box

Select an existing receptacle with excess capacity to power the surface wiring circuit extension. Turn off power to that circuit. Remove existing outlet and install the starter box mounting bracket. Install raceway, bushings, wire and surface-mount starter box. Make final wiring connections, then install outlet and cover plate.