How to Locate Romex Runs Behind Drywall

ROMEX® runs are basically the electrical wires that connect your home's electrical fixtures, outlets and switches to the breaker panel. Often when you need to cut into drywall for repairs, install new electrical connections or troubleshoot a fault, you need to know where the ROMEX® wires are located inside the wall. There are ways to trace wires to prevent ripping out drywall just to find the wires.

Stud finder with wire mode

Instructions

- 1
  Go to the breaker box, which is usually in the basement or the attic. Trace the wires from the breaker box to where they go up or down into the walls, respectively. Most wires will go to a stud location and will travel straight up or down.
- 2
  Locate any electrical outlets, switches and light fixtures. Wires usually run straight up from an outlet to a switch and then take a straight line upward and along the ceiling to the light fixture.
- 3
  Determine the location of any non-obvious wires with a stud finder that has a "wire mode" built into it. The wire mode will beep when it detects wires with current flowing. Turn on the electrical switches to allow current to flow to the light fixtures. Run the stud finder up and down the wall every 12 inches to ensure you do not miss any wire locations. This is a great tool to use when you trace a wire from one location in the home but you cannot locate where it goes.

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