Running Wires Into Attic

Rigid conduit with an outside diameter of 3 4 in and a fish tape long enough to reach through the buried pipe.

Running wires into attic.

Warning if the attic is your only access space for running cable you may find it necessary to cut another small hole in the wall surface high on the wall in order to gain access for drilling. While one person holds the flashlight the other person should use a staple gun to run the wire along the rafters from one entry hole to the other. To run cables vertically go into the attic or basement and drill holes in the wall plates above or below the locations of connection boxes. The original plan was to run security camera wires up through soffit into attic down into basement but that no longer is an option.

I just got back from my attic and realized i can t access the soffit from there. The national electrical code requires holes containing non metallic cable often called romex or flexible metal clad cable be set back 1 1 4 in or more from the edge of a stud fig. Attach the wire or cable to a fish tape or coat hanger using electrical tape and feed it into the hole until it reaches the opening at the other end. To run the wires inside rigid conduit you ll need a hacksaw a pipe bender capable of bending 1 2 in.

Bring all of the wire up into the attic. The staple gun should be loaded with wire staples designed for holding the size and type of wire you are running. If this meets code then i will be running attic wiring in this manner from now on. These holes will be used to fish the cable down into the basement or crawlspace area or up into the attic in order to run the cable from box to box.

Running wires inside rigid conduit. Run the wire or cable to its destination. If drilling up through the ceiling expect to pass through a thin coat of plaster and 5 8 of sheet rock and 1 2 inch 1 3 cm of strapping to which the sheet rock is secured. If you re working from the attic you can drop a weighted string down wall cavity then attach the wire to the string and pull it through.

Run security camera wires caution. Protect the wall with a thin piece of cardboard etc. I was also under the impression that if wiring is in an attic space that it may need to be derated because it can get very hot up there. Cut a hole for each box with a drywall saw or a saw appropriate for the wall material then feed the wires down from the attic or up from the basement toward each hole using a fish tape or a fish stick.