Cut romex behind the wall

[Rileyesi]

A friend was hanging a new light fixture (replacing an existing one) and
accidentally drilled into the romex behind the wall. He found out because when
he flipped the switch, the breaker tripped. He removed the new fixture and the
screws holding in the metal box, flipped the switch, and the other two lights
on the switch came on just fine.

Question. How concerned should he be about the cut romex that is in the wall?
Most likely, the wire is not cut, just had some of the insulation scrapped off.
In fact, by his best guess (by measuring the resistance) the screw cut into
the black wire and not the white. To get access to the romex would be a real
pain.

Any suggestions?

 

[Howard Henry Schlunder]

"Rileyesi" wrote in message
news:20030811152748.20113.00002054@mb-m29.aol.com...

A friend was hanging a new light fixture (replacing an existing one) and
accidentally drilled into the romex behind the wall. He found out because
when
he flipped the switch, the breaker tripped. He removed the new fixture
and the
screws holding in the metal box, flipped the switch, and the other two
lights
on the switch came on just fine.

Question. How concerned should he be about the cut romex that is in the
wall?
Most likely, the wire is not cut, just had some of the insulation scrapped
off.
In fact, by his best guess (by measuring the resistance) the screw cut
into
the black wire and not the white. To get access to the romex would be a
real
pain.

Any suggestions?

The black wire is the hot wire in AC electrical systems. It would be better
if the white one was cut instead. It definitely wouldn't be good having a
metal box connected to the hot wire.

Personally, it wouldn't bother me. Thermal expansion, condensation, and big
mice are the only things I can think of which could cause it to short out
and start a fire. Even then, it has to be a fairly high impedance short to
start a fire (otherwise the circuit breaker would trip). It doesn't sound
like a too likely hazard to me. I would remove all the appliances connected
to the circuit and then measure the leakage current at the circuit breaker.
If it is too low to be accurately measured, I would simply replace the
circuit breaker with the smallest one your appliances can get away with and
continue to drive a car, swim alone, tell people they are fat, or other
things which have risk in life.

Howard Henry Schlunder




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[Jim Hancock]

Rileyesi wrote:

A friend was hanging a new light fixture (replacing an existing one) and
accidentally drilled into the romex behind the wall. He found out because when
he flipped the switch, the breaker tripped. He removed the new fixture and the
screws holding in the metal box, flipped the switch, and the other two lights
on the switch came on just fine.

Question. How concerned should he be about the cut romex that is in the wall?
Most likely, the wire is not cut, just had some of the insulation scrapped off.
In fact, by his best guess (by measuring the resistance) the screw cut into
the black wire and not the white. To get access to the romex would be a real
pain.

Any suggestions?

Any nick or cut in the copper conductor, even if not shorted or grounded, is
dangerous. That section of the wire is no longer capable of carrying the current
the cable was designed for and will over heat before the breaker trips. A fire is
sure to follow. Which will be easier - replacing the wire or rebuilding the house?
You should be able to fish a new line between boxes without having to remove the
old one. Just disconnect it.

 

[Howard Henry Schlunder]

This is a test of a new newserver. I switched in the hopes of making my
posts more sexy and appealing to all the hot chicks out there. This message
should not have that horrid (!) Newsfeeds.com adviertisement.

 

[Terry]

Rileyesi wrote:

A friend was hanging a new light fixture (replacing an existing one) and
accidentally drilled into the romex behind the wall. He found out because when
he flipped the switch, the breaker tripped. He removed the new fixture and the
screws holding in the metal box, flipped the switch, and the other two lights
on the switch came on just fine.

Question. How concerned should he be about the cut romex that is in the wall?
Most likely, the wire is not cut, just had some of the insulation scrapped off.
In fact, by his best guess (by measuring the resistance) the screw cut into
the black wire and not the white. To get access to the romex would be a real
pain.

Any suggestions?

It's a pain but I'd fix it correctly.
Reasons; a) Safety of life. b) If fire happened and it was
apparent to an insurance investigation that damage had occurred
due to a known fault that had never been fixed his insurance
policy might be deemed invalid?
Any chance he can reach into the wall and tug up some slack wire
to reterminate it in the metal box etc.?
That's 2 cents. For what it's worth.