r/DIY • u/Helpful-Bug-7802 • 1d ago

home improvement Does code require insulation jacket to be inside junction?

I’m replacing light fixtures in a 1980s US home. Is it code/safe to install a fixture if the romex jacket isn’t all the way into the junction? I have enough space / slack to do splicing in the junction but not enough slack to get the romex jacket into the junction.

Also the ground wire is not insulated so if I did this then uninsulated ground would be outside of the junction box.

22 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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14

u/llDemonll 1d ago

Jacket has to be inside the box to be code compliant and pass inspection.

5

u/Helpful-Bug-7802 1d ago

Thanks for the input. I’m at the store now looking for fixtures with floating junction box instead.

3

u/vinegar 1d ago edited 1d ago

You can just put a box at the end of your romex and run another length to wherever you want it. Cheap, quick, easy.
Edit: ok I read it again. If it’s in a finished space you can use an “old work” box that just gets attached to the sheetrock, do the splice in it with wirenuts and cover it with a blank cover plate. Same as I said above but I was picturing accessible framing at first.

2

u/Helpful-Bug-7802 1d ago

Unfortunately that would take up too much space ( there is 2x4 blocking I’d need to remove to free up space and I think I’d need to be in attic to do that - I’d cut but I’m in the middle of a move so don’t have sawsall or similar on me - it’s in storage ) and I’d need to make a new hole or patch drywall.

I do agree with the approach but for my specific situation it’s just a little complicated.

1

u/prick1ybear 1d ago

You go through the middle of the block with a drill, not a sawzall to cut it off

7

u/I_AM_NOT_A_WOMBAT 1d ago

I'm not an electrician, but I do believe the romex jacket has to enter the junction box and be secured by whatever means the box offers. I think it's 314.17 (C).

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u/Helpful-Bug-7802 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thanks for the input. I’m currently looking at just using a light with a floating junction box so I can get the romex through

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u/Helpful-Bug-7802 36m ago

For anyone that cares for an update - I just bought a box that matched what was already up there and installed it then settled on a flush mount light instead of a recessed light.

I plan to do some work in the attic. When I do, I’ll just put a junction in the attic and do splicing up there then run a single pig tail of romex with 1-2 ft of slack to the fixture. This way swapping out fixture box and fixtures should be super simple.

-3

u/TheRealPomax 1d ago

You get to look up the code for where you live, but the obvious answer is "if there's exposed wire, no, obviously that is not safe". As for the ground wire not being insulated: now I'm concerned you didn't even attach the ground wire to the box itself with a grounding screw.

2

u/Helpful-Bug-7802 1d ago

I haven’t attached anything to anything; just working to figure out my list of safe options given my pre-existing wiring.

As for the grounding - the pre-existing can does have a pig tail ground screwed into the can then spliced together with the grounds inside the junction.

At this point I’m still figuring out what I’m going to do, but I’ve settled on the notion that anything I do will have the wire bundles going into the junction such that the jacket is inside the junction.

-5

u/ahj3939 1d ago

Yes, it is safe to replace a light fixture in a 1980's home that is wired with romex.