Electrical Wiring in a Basement

Boxes

• An effective plan for wiring a basement starts with creating a diagram showing where you will place all of the electrical components. Walking through a framed basement before starting any work allows you to map out the best locations for such elements as lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles. Ensure that you include receptacles for such things as dryers, computers, smoke detectors or any other feature for which you will need to install electrical wiring.

Code

• Your local electrical code will specify what types of work you may do and what types of materials you can use. For example, some codes only allow qualified electricians to performs certain tasks, such as adding a new circuit to a basement. Codes typically require that switches be installed 48 to 50 inches above the basement floor and receptacles 12 to 18 inches above it. The code may also regulate whether you should use metal or plastic electrical boxes.

Furring Strips

• Some homeowners use 2-by-2 wooden furring strips to frame their basements rather than the thicker 2-by-4s. This method saves space but leaves less room for the electrical components. To solve the problem, you can run your wires into a special electrical box, called a pancake box, that has a thickness of only 1 1/2 inches. The box has a greater width than the typical electrical box to make up for its lack of depth.

Conduit

• When running electrical wire through an exposed area or behind a shallow wall made from furring strips, using electrical metallic tubing, or EMT, conduit provides a safe housing for the wire. You will need to bend and shape the EMT conduit, but the material is quite flexible and easy to work with. To run wire through the conduit, you can simply push it through manually for short distances with no bends or use fish tape, a metal wire you can guide easily, for longer distances or paths that have significant twists and turns.