Electrical Rough In Wiring for LIGHTS

[@MattSapp]

Looking Good. Something I learned similar to how you are here - always tie off the end of the pull string to something - it takes almost no time to pop a nail or screw into a nearby rafter or joist and tie off that string. Gravity LOVES pull strings.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yup, I call this one another life lesson learned the hard way 😂

[@journalchan]

The last time I watched your video it was when you guys just purchased your land. It’s amazing how far you guys progressed. Keep up the hard work!!!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

wow! a lot has happened since then! We've been pretty slow but it's been a fun, rewarding journey. Glad to have you back!

[@wallpello_1534]

Pro electrician here you guys are doing a good job. The only thing I would done differently is crossed the wires inside the panel instead of above.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks for the reassurance and advice!

[@tbateshockey16]

@@MasonDixonAcres what i usually do is not cross any wires and plan the breaker layout after, but im kinda ocd for panels lol for someone not an electrician its still a pretty good job

[@davidrodgers6621]

It's so interesting to see how different electricals are compared to the UK

[@thtadthtshldntbe]

thanks for the first video of the new year. Tip - I learned from my years in IT work. If you ever get stuck with that situation where you have to fish something throw a wall either because you dont have a fish tape (in the case of IT its because the prior contractor was a moron and either never put one in or removed it) or you lost the existing string, use a combination of the fisher rods with magnets attached (you can attach something metal to whatever wire, string, cord etc you want pulled ie pull a new pull string through), strong magnets to slid them along walls from the other side, a fiber optic camera to sort of see where you are going and if you have some access they make something like those surgical instruments they use for laproscopic surgery for non medical use.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks for the advice! A scope camera is definitely on the tool wish list.. hopefully we never have a situation to actually use it 😄

[@thtadthtshldntbe]

@@MasonDixonAcres lol someone told me a long time ago if you want to hope dont work in IT, go watch Star Wars or read the bible

[@mygrady2]

You should install blocking between studs in the kitchen for attaching cabinet to walls and for mounting towel bars, grab rails in bathrooms.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yep that will be going in shortly! We will do a whole video on blocking

[@FJB2020]

Or just sheet it with plywood first. I find that easier than trying to figure out where I need blocking.

[@danielrakijasic2889]

These are the type of lights I would suggest for your build. You can also use them outdoors and they would work as area security and Christmas lights. Infibrite Canless Smart Slim Round Recessed 6-Pack 6-in LED Remodel or New Construction White Airtight Ic Baffle Canless Recessed Light Kit

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yep we will be using a similar model from HALO!

[@stormraven4183]

I have just spent the last 24 hours watching your build videos, from land purchase to now. I was a lot like you two in my 20s, and had the same homesteading calling. We have taken different approaches, but with similar results...except that you are going to beat me by about 20 years, so congrats. I am curious why you decided not to go the smart home route, or at least smart switches & fixtures.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Wow, thanks! That could be a MDA binge watching record 😂 glad you found us and are loving the homestead lifestyle! We will definitely be putting in some smart home tech Those don’t typically affect rough wiring unless you needed dedicated cabling to things like motorized blinds or surround sound.. but we’re not that fancy for this build haha

[@randyanderson1983]

Why is your osb wet on the inside of wall at 24:28? I thought the hole out side of house was finished pretty much for waterproofing?

[@MasonDixonAcres]

It’s not at all, it’s a color difference in the resin. The process is called skip sanding. Huber runs the panels through a giant drum sander after manufacturing to make sure the panel is a perfect 7/16” thickness throughout.

[@randyanderson1983]

Ahh ok thank you for the information about Huber

[@A..n..d..y]

suggestion support the other side of your 4 outlet box. It will help support it for sheetrock. Also when pulling wire I find it better to cut all the wires except the ground shorter and then loop the ground wire around the pull string. Also as you found out if you install a pull string always tie off both ends that way you will never pull it out.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We did put a block there after all the wiring was pulled, definitely stiffens it up. Good tip on pulling! We had to do something similar when we pulled the main service cables in, since they were so large.

[@FJB2020]

I too am wiring up my house. Trying to figure out all the future circuits I would need is a chore. I did set up a 100 amp sub panel to use as a backup generator terminal for all my important loads (lights, fridges, ERV, few outlets and office). Luckily for me, I already had them put in power so I do not need a final inspection. This will save me thousands by not using AFCI breakers and dealing with the constant nuisance tripping headaches associated with those money grab devices.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Haha I've read lots of mixed feelings on AFCIs, they are definitely pricey but I found most of ours very reasonably priced on ebay. I've read most of the nuisance tripping is from using them with old or bad wiring, I'm curious to see if we have any nuisance trips.

[@FJB2020]

@MasonDixonAcres Any inductive loads, motors, vacuums, fridges, dishwashers, or even some microwaves will trip them. I wish you luck with them, but I am totally against them for use in new construction.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We will see how it goes! Someone else did say to definitely not use them on a fridge circuit

[@FreddyWertzCreative]

Starting being a DIY electrician, ending being a bee nest destroyer :D Keep up with the good work ! 💪

[@MasonDixonAcres]

That's the plan!!

[@A..n..d..y]

Another suggestion is to make a story stick for your wiring, that way you can keep it all the same. A story stick is also a great idea for framing your wall but you have most of that done already.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

I like it! Heights for receps, switches, drilled holes, etc.

[@alvarosc]

Looks superb, have you already take a look at Home Assistant or other ways to automate things in the house? I will start checking how to control lights/outlets/appliances now as later will be a pain in the behind. Regards from Spain!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We haven't quite decided on home automation yet, but most of the systems seem to be standalone devices (motion switches etc.) or wireless. All of our switches and receps will likely come from the same brand like Lutron or Topgreener which I think are integrated wirelessly through an app. Any suggestions from someone more familiar on this are certainly welcome!

[@alvarosc]

From my side I will suggest to avoid WiFi devices and go for ZigBee ones :)

[@bryce2113]

@@MasonDixonAcres Zigbee or Zwave with a HomeAssistant (running on a rasperry Pi or stand alone device) will be your best bet. Avoid Wifi as much as possible.

[@rustypage602]

The best and easiest method to do under cabinet lighting is to use 14/3 put a double gang box behind your fridge or stove. Run a single HR to each under cabinet light, then hook it up on the normals (black/white). The red will always be there if a wire gets nicked. Also it will allow you to go low voltage (using the 14/3) if you ever needed to change them. This will give you one switched wire. And one HR in each under cabinet light. Hope that made sense.

[@rustypage602]

Sorry. The junction box behind the fridge or stove is used to junction all the UC lights with the switch. It’s always accessible. And if your switching to LV driver most require at least three wires to change hues or colors. (BK, RD, WH, ground)

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yep that's why I put our box under the sink, so if I ever wanted to go LV I would have a place to plug in and store the driver. Interesting tip on the 14/3, I didn't know low voltage lights needed 3 conductor. Will have to file that one away for the future addition kitchen!

[@PhillyGreenView]

best thing is to take videos of the rough in and h-res pics! you'll know exactly where things are. Great video tho!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Definitely! We have taken a few videos anyway 😆

[@tylerforbes8623]

At 25:40, why does it look like like the sheathing is wet on the interior?

[@jimdarhower4945]

Maaan I really hope I’m just seeing things but it does appear that a bunch of moisture is somehow getting through there. Hope I’m wrong.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

It’s not at all, it’s a color difference in the resin. The process is called skip sanding. Huber runs the panels through a giant drum sander after manufacturing to make sure the panel is a perfect 7/16” thickness throughout.

[@Taz2496]

Hi guys, I’m from across the water in the uk and your doing a great job, however you mention 3 way switch, do you not mean 2 way. Here when you say 3 way it means that you have 3 switches operating a circuit?

[@MasonDixonAcres]

it is actually a 3-way here for two switches controlling a light, and a 4-way for three switches. I just looked it up, it's because there's 3 terminals in a "3-way" switch, it's not about how many switches are on the circuit. Leave it to Americans to come up with that 😆

[@buckshot5896]

Tie half hitches on wire with the jet line then tape, your string will never break when pulling

[@АлексейАлексей-з2я2у]

Молодцы но. Будем смотреть дальше.

[@kevinkieffer7798]

The problem with all light on one circuit. Is that at night if the breaker pops for lights you will be sitting g in the dark.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

I can’t say I’ve ever had a lighting circuit breaker trip in that circumstance so I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it 😄

[@inkiescom]

Run some conduit to the braker panel

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We did later! (2) 1.5" PVC and (1) 1" EMT. Just published a Reels on Instagram about this!

[@TKCastro]

You mentioned running the ethernet for the camer to your living room, Why not the mechnical room? Centralize your network in the mechincal room, then distrubute to the rest of the house.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

I figured I would need it there to connect to the NVR and be able to view all the camera feeds on the TV, but I’ve never set up a PoE network so I could be an idiot 😂 maybe the NVR could be located in the utility room and run a single cat 6 back to the living room to view all the feeds? Would definitely be interested in learning more about it if you want to email! [e-mail]

[@TKCastro]

@@MasonDixonAcres I’ll reach out via email. The key decision make will be the NVR you choose. Most allow you to stream your video feed over your network, or runs long hdmi from your living room tv to your mechanical room. Either way the goal would be to centralize anything related to data/network/security and have them on a battery backup. Congrats on the progress you’re made so far, can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks so much! We will be using the Reolink RLN16-410 NVR. Its manual shows the NVR setup right next to the TV because it outputs via HDMI and is controlled with a mouse plugged into a USB port. I think that's how I got the idea it should go in the living room, and I ran conduit up to the attic for future cameras to connect (more detail coming in the low voltage video)

[@TKCastro]

@@MasonDixonAcres the reopening can be monitored remotely (app or browser), so no need to have it connected to your main tv via hdmi. Worst case you run a single hdmi cable to the mechanical room. I think you’ll be fine either way.

[@buckshot5896]

It should be a code requirement to have lighting and power separate but I still see people jumping off of receptacles to hit their lighting. Makes it a pain 10 years down the road to troubleshoot. In some states you have to run 12awg or bigger, they don’t allow 14 because people will still put on a 20 amp breaker instead of proper 15 amp. I hate how cheaply made romex is so did my house in single conductor thhn wire, I ran conduit and used mc cables, I spent more money but I can rewire a 3000 sqft house in a day

[@MasonDixonAcres]

That's definitely a robust setup! In Europe I believe they require all conduit as well for similar reasoning.

[@ChocolateMilkBoy]

dont you need to have your red seal for insurance purposes?

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Not in our jurisdiction as long as everything passes inspection. Our inspector had no problems with us self performing electrical, although if you were working on someone else's house you'd definitely need the license.

[@ChocolateMilkBoy]

your probably saving a fortune @@MasonDixonAcres

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Definitely a couple dollars! More importantly however, gaining knowledge

[@DouglasPFresh]

Under sink not getting a garbage disposal?

[@amd4929]

That’s the chickens job lol

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Covered that in the receptacle wiring video!

[@daroldw4606]

LOL! YOU DIDN'T NEED TO FREAK OUT OVER PAPER WASPES. LOL!

[@dane9175]

Sheet rockers are very messy they will trash your floor you will never be able to find your X'S. You need to mark your locations with a screw then mark the screw with paint so you do not lose your point /X'S 🤔

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Very good tip! Since filming this we have actually decided to use the mounting frames to save us the work on drilling the cans after drywall. Then there's really no excuse to get the locations wrong 😁

[@MattSapp]

@@MasonDixonAcres Ramboard or similar over the whole floor, or at least squares well-taped over the light markings will save them from the drywall mud mess too

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Good idea there!

[@billvojtech5686]

WD-40 kills insects almost instantly.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Never heard of that one! Will file that away in the toolbox for later use.. haha

[@allthingsgrowing]

I cant stop laughing, i almost spit my coffee out. You ran like a girl. Just like i would have. I always tell my wife that if you hear a girl screaming, dont come running, its just me.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

hahah Elaina just about did the same 😆

[@george6210]

You don't ues conduits.

[@carlicehouse]

Always strip the outer sheathing before putting the wires into a box or panel. Far easier to strip and less likely to nick any wire coating.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks for the tip!!