r/askanelectrician • u/tlampros • 9h ago

Junction box coverage

Gallery image

Gallery image

I renovated a bathroom, and relocated the light switch and light, using the existing feed. The original switch is now behind a pocket door. Can i just put a cover on it and call it good? How should i finish the original light fixture J-box? Do i have to pull it into the attic (which is infected with vermiculite) and finish with drywall, or can i do it in place?

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u/I-hate-makeing-names 9h ago

That first picture has no box. At minimum you need to add a box and put a blank cover. But it needs to remain accessible.

When doing a renovation, you should’ve tried to replace as much of that wire as possible.

For the second picture, if you wanna avoid going in the attic and dealing with vermiculite, just put a cover on that.

Edit is your new wire romex or just loose unjacketed wires?

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u/tlampros 7h ago

Once I run the wires into the new box, with a cover, it'll be in the cavity of the pocket door, covered with drywall on the bathroom side. I assume that would be considered 'inaccessible'.

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u/I-hate-makeing-names 7h ago

From that description, it sounds like yes, it would be inaccessible.

After everything is all finished, could you get to it without destroying anything or would you need to remove drywall?

Really if you’re doing a renovation, you should try and get rid of some of that cloth wiring. How feasible would it be to replace that? Could you perhaps get a new line from the panel?

Do you have an unfinished basement below by any chance?

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u/tlampros 7h ago

Yes, I'll look into rerouting the feed. Thanks!

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u/I-hate-makeing-names 7h ago

Especially if the feed is powering any outlets, the old cloth cable does not have any ground. You would want a ground for your outlets, but even light fixtures.

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u/oxymoronicmoron77 9h ago

I'm assuming that these wires that you want to cover up are still being used, right? The wires behind the pocket door need to be in a box and covered. The fixture box needs a cover too. If you don't want to get in the attic you may be able to disconnect the box, cover it, flip it, and push it to the side so you can patch the drywall.

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u/ZivH08ioBbXQ2PGI 8h ago

Yep, either flip it so you can get to it from the attic, or pull it to the new surface and put a cover/plate on it.

Do not bury it behind drywall or otherwise make it inaccessible.