How to Run Electricity in a Concrete Block House

Plan the wiring and layout on paper before picking up a tool. Know the number of outlets, switches and circuits, and the total amperage you will need for the block house. Sketch each wall and the specific path where the conduit will run, and the locations of all outlets and switches. Look for problem areas such as paths that require you to double-back and lay extra conduit when a shorter path could be worked out, or too many tools or other power-hungry units sharing a circuit.

Trace the path of the conduit, switches and outlets on each wall with washable chalk. Note by each switch or outlet what will be controlled at that point and on which circuit it will be.

Attach the conduit along the walls from the circuit breaker box. You will need one conduit run for each circuit. Securely fasten the conduit to the wall with concrete screws every three to four feet.

Fasten the switch or outlet boxes to the conduit at the appropriate marked location with an offset connector. Place the conduit side of the connector over the end of the conduit and the box side of the connector into the knock-out hole of the box. Screw the conduit side together with the inset screw, and place the large screw-washer over the connector on the inside of the box and tighten it down.

Place a conduit connector at the hole where the conduit will continue to run to another box. Hook it up the same way and continue to run the conduit. You will have conduit running to each box, and conduit running from each box, except for the last one in the circuit, which will only have conduit running to it.

Select a wire from each of the green, black and white reels standing by the circuit breaker box and push them together though the mouth of the conduit for one of the circuits. Keep pushing through the conduit until they reach the first junction box. Repeat this for each separate conduit forming a circuit.

Cut the three wires at the first box toward which you just pushed the wire, leaving about 12 inches of wire hanging from the conduit going into the box. Take the cut ends and push them towards the next box down the line through the conduit leaving the box. When the next box has been reached, continue to push wire until about 12 inches are hanging from the conduit at the second box. Cut off the wire at the first box so there is about 12 inches leading into the conduit going to the second box. Continue this process for all the boxes on all the circuits until every box has wires running to it and wires from it, except the last box in the circuit, which only has wires running to it.

Connect the wiring to the switches determined by what you want the switches to do and how you want them to work. There are a dozen ways or more to wire within a switch box depending upon specifically how you want the switch or outlet to work. If you are unsure how best to wire that particular box, seek the advice of a more experienced person.

Double-check all the work when finished for completeness and accuracy. Turn the final wiring of the conduit and wires into the circuit breaker box over to a licensed electrician.