Starting our own Electrical - Are We Crazy? | Mounting Outlet & Switch Boxes

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Download the spreadsheet we made that helped immensely as first time wire pullers! ⬇ www.masondixonacres.com/collections/self-build-resources/products/electrical-rough-in-planning-spreadsheet

[@CarlGolden]

For the outlet behind the wall mounted TV. Add another with conduit down the wall for cable tv/ hdmi/cat5 or 6 to another box at your 14" or over to any further cabinets for equipment.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yep that's soon to come in the low voltage install!

[@billybike57]

Retired industrial electrician here, awesome work glad to see your so conscientious about your work. Not only your electrical but everything, awesome job

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thank you very much!!

[@guyprattii3115]

Switched outlet above upper kitchen cabinets for lights. Christmas lights or plan white lights to light up home decor that my wife puts up there.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

In the wiring video we will talk more about the undercabinet light plan! They will all be line voltage fixtures wired in. We did do a switched outlet in the soffit for lights 👌🏼

[@klav5930]

Looking good! Nice work to you both!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thank you kindly!

[@frankieboy2417]

When I was younger I helped a electrician friend rewiring older houses from knob and tube wiring. It's easier than I thought and have wired my okd house, garage and wired my chicken coop I built this summer. It's great your girl helps you help with construction, with a sense of humor helps also.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

That's awesome! Yes, once you understand the fundamentals and probably 20-30 various rules, residential wiring really isn't crazy complex if you have the desire to learn it

[@YosemiteSam01]

Leviton USB Dual Type-C with Power Delivery In-Wall Charger with 15 Amp 125 Volt Tamper-Resistant Outlet (you can also get them with Type-A & C which is handy)

[@festival3rocker]

code specifies minimum outlets required but doesnt say anything about maximum outlets - go absolutely nuts. Consider using 2 gang duplex outlets (4 plugs) where there's a lot of demand such as where a desk might go or on either side of the bed, put them in closets for vacuum charging or other future uses dedicated one in pantry for beverage cooler / ice machine seperate from microwave (which I like in a pantry for noise). Coffee bar gets a dedicated line, whereever you're going to put wifi repeaters gets an outlet, put in a switched outlet in the eaves for seasonal holiday lighting, several exterior ones. under the couch for side table lamps, or routing an extension for phone or laptop charging, etc.

[@brentwalburn4256]

Hey just to make things easier run 2x6’s in between your studs in the kitchen. It’s for the cabinets to hang on. Do it at the top and bottom of the uppers and the top of the lowers. Makes it so much easier to hang and you don’t have to measure to hit the studs.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Good call! We will probably do a whole day of walking around putting blocking in 😄

[@kimandtheboys]

My husband wants to do that all the way around walls where we may hang pictures, etrc. so he doesn't have to worry about finding a stud

[@rehoboth_farm]

On this house we are using all tongue and groove instead of Sheetrock. It's really nice because you don't have to worry about finding wood. There it is. I also despise finishing Sheetrock. With tongue and groove you just put some shellac or whatever on it and there you are. Looks elegant too.

[@ncflare]

Nice work! Have you given thought to outlets with USB ports? We have them next to the beds in every bedroom, by the bath vanities, in the kitchen and a couple in the kitchen island. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your build.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

That's a great idea! We thought about it for the bedside outlets, kitchen would be a good spot as well!

[@dspears666]

TV up high looks good. But not comfortable for watching. Eye level when sitting works the best.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We will probably fine tune the height when we do the built in. At a friends house we saw they had a pretty neat mount where the TV was mounted high but lowered down on arms to viewing height when desired

[@erraticengineering2487]

You can add motion sensor timer switches for high volume areas. That way you don’t have to worry about the height of the switch location.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks for the tip!

[@averageliving4Life]

Haha thought I was pioneering something with the palm nailer idea. But i did get a battery powered to try!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Haha not even sure whether we saw someone else do that or thought about it ourselves! Heard the 12V ones are awesome!

[@averageliving4Life]

Hopefully it gets the job done!

[@markjanes2392]

We switched to a bidet mainly because it's healthier paper products contain bpa and other xenoestrogens. It's way cleaner and saves too.

[@generessler6282]

Nice. Consider floor outlets in rooms that might be used as an office to allow a centrally positioned desk with no random cords for lights and computers strewn across the floor. Same for table lamps in the middle of areas like the living room, where there's no wire route to a wall.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Great tip! We thought about doing it in the living room for an end table next to the couch but then decided it wasn't worth it, can't remember why 😂 I think due to space constraints we can't fit the table. Our little office area isn't aren't quite large enough to have a standalone desk, but definitely a great consideration for the main house!

[@generessler6282]

@@MasonDixonAcres Thanks for responding. I mentioned this because we bought a house with an open plan and rooms with many windows so that centrally located furniture is pretty much required. We keep needing to put a rug down just to have a way to get power where needed. Not ideal. Ultimately I'll probably add floor outlets, but - especially upstairs - that's not a small add.

[@yssoloman]

im against having the outlet in the closet as i see it as a fire risk, unless it were to be in a completely open area where nothing in the future is covering it.

[@sammax4245]

Wire much all the wholes to prevent future mice inflation easy to do it now, eliminate hiding spots for easy control in case a mouse enter the house, mice/rate issue is a big problem won't cost you much now wire much ,Snips and stapler.

[@nsbconstruction9698]

04:52 not good to only have one stud between boxes

[@Multatuli1978]

Hi Alaina & Alex, awesome work! You’re truly inspiring! One question since English is my second language, I’m not sure if I understood correctly; Alex, why do you call Alaina your “little electrician helper”? 1. You mentioned the both of you are no electricians and 2. “Little helper” sounds patronising to me. I hope my understanding is lost in translation. Keep up your great work, greetings from The Netherlands!

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thanks! Yes it’s just a joke 😄

[@JimfromIndy]

Your outlet height story stick is brilliant. I hate watching people measure each of these, or worse, screwing up the height so two boxes don't match. Don't forget the outlet in the toilet room must be GFCI, and likely 20amp. Lower switch height serves wheelchair-bound folks better. Make your TV box double-gang in case you need to run low-voltage (cable, hdmi, etc). A double-gang box that has a single-gang code-compliant mains voltage alongside a low-voltage frame is best. Put a similar box at floor level.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We read a lot of electricians just use their hammer 😄 All of our receps in the living area will be on dual function AFCI/GFCI breakers so we will be covered! More details on the TV boxes and conduit in the low voltage video soon to come!

[@JimfromIndy]

@@MasonDixonAcres be thoughtful about gfci and afci. Any motor with a start capacitor can inappropriately trip a gfci. Think garage door opener or refrigerator. There’s a reason they’re not code everywhere

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Good point! We will have GFI only in the garage area. I think it’s still code to use AFCI for the fridge circuit in our area but will have to keep an eye on it

[@lotusgardener]

Mount that box for the charger at 48". Also run 1" or even better 1-1/4" conduit to that box. This gives you the flexibility of upgrading up to an 80 or 90 amp circuit, should charger technology get there (Tesla offers it).

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Holy crap 90 amps would be almost half the service! That's a good idea though. If we ever need a major charger upgrade like that it would be pretty easy to come right through the utility room wall into the garage

[@SBKing-hm4mf]

2nd the toilet. Can also charge your phone if it’s low on power and you need to charge it while doing your bathroom business.

[@jeffshoultattoo5247]

led lights for the closet lmao

[@thtadthtshldntbe]

You two are young and healthy but you may want to think out aging issues with the electrical. For instance some medical equipment used in the home might need dedicated circuits. Running a couple of extra wires in the wall to your bedrooms even if you dont connect them for a long time. They can just sit in the wall for now. You also may want to put some desk or waste high outlets in office areas wgere you plug abd unplug stuff a lot to protect your back in the future.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thank you for the tips! We will probably do more of this in the main addition with the primary bedroom on the first floor. We will be using all 12ga for receptacles so those circuits should be able to handle most plug-in items!

[@thtadthtshldntbe]

@@MasonDixonAcres you would be surprised with the current draw on some medical equipment. I had to use an oxygen generator in my home for a couple months and it required its own 15 AMP circuit. Put anything else on it and the circuit breaker would pop whenever the machine ran. My grandfathers hospital bed was the same for a 20amp circuit whenever it used its heavy motors.

[@Shde5i]

we love u from jordan

[@peterhenderson3694]

Hi guys I’ve been a master electrician for a long time and you asked for input so here it is. Most definitely think of drywall and trim when placing boxes. When I place switch boxes for 8 foot switches I measure down from the ceiling 48 1/2” to account for ceiling drywall. Don’t use a pancake box there is a saddle fan box you can use instead. I’ve learned to use a laser when setting boxes in kitchen because if someone uses tile backsplash and if boxes aren’t perfect you will see it. Think where you will place beds and couches and place outlets where end tables will be. If you are going to switch outlets in any room I usually run 3 wire between several outlets and break the tab on the hot side of the outlet so you will be able to switch the top of them and if you re arrange the furniture you will still have a switched outlet for a lamp. Kitchen island receptacle location has increased and uses a square foot rule. But wait for it. This new increase has been removed in the latest code update and no receptacles are required due to the possibility of a child pulling on a wire of a crock pot and burning themselves. I know you will have to follow your code cycle being enforced. I’ve been asked to do a lot such as being able to operate flood lights from many locations to give the owner to turn them on wherever they happen to be. Good luck and remember to spool the wire off rather than pulling the wire center keep the twists out of the wire.. good luck

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thank you for the advice!! Stay tuned for our DIY wire unspooler coming up 😉

[@peterhenderson3694]

@@MasonDixonAcres probably to late but don’t cut the wires too short in the boxes. Code is 6” measured from the back of the box which is way to short. Grab the wires and make a fist putting the pinky side against the box and extend your thumb cut the wires an inch longer than your thumb. Do not buy 2.00 receptacle and switches spend 5.00 you won’t regret it and no back stabbing use the screws. Code changed a bunch of years ago requiring a neutral at every switch location so be careful on 3 and 4 way switching. Just feed one side and load the other and carry the neutral across the 3 wire that way you will always have a neutral at all your 3 and 4 way switches. Remember not to drive your staples tight if you do it will trip GFI circuits. I really enjoy your project reminds me when I built my home when I was just 25 the house build was easy the hard part was the relationship with the wife. But you guys are great working partners. Good luck but you really don’t need it.

[@frankieboy2417]

You guys better do a chicken video again, finally getting eggs and even a double yoker

[@MasonDixonAcres]

After the holidays we're hoping to move them to the property! That'll definitely be documented because we still need to figure out how we are going to transport the huge chicken coop. Glad to hear you're getting eggs! We will be hatching more chicks this year as well

[@frankieboy2417]

@@MasonDixonAcres I have to move mine, I built it with clear polycarbonate for the roof sheeting but failed to consider winter sun. I remember you used a tractor before just load it on a flat trailer. I'm just going to put skids under mine but its here on my property.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Yep that's the thought! We were even thinking to fork the actual coop onto the trailer and leave them in it for the ride 😂 no different than a horse trailer right??

[@frankieboy2417]

@@MasonDixonAcres I have the same idea, leave them in there. Can't wait for the video, I'm always impressed with you guys, keep it up.

[@sammax4245]

Put outlets on the top of the doors for future door closers ( retirement home)

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Never heard of that one! Motorized closers?

[@sammax4245]

@@MasonDixonAcres Yes.

[@allthingsgrowing]

I do not think you guys are crazy at all. Anything that you may do wrong can always be corrected. Sometimes, it's the best way to learn. What i have learned in my time in construction, each inspector differs in what they will allow. Some are really good to work with, others can be dictators. Thats where the issue always comes in. That being said, the other things to consider are costs. Electricians easily make more money than lawyers, for pulling wire. The tradeoff, let them worry about it all. Inspections, install etc. I see it both ways. Pulling wire can be a bit daunting, but you guys can do it. You will save a ton of money. I will always encourage someone to do it first. However, sometimes it is best to let someone else step in so you can move somewhere else. If you can find an electrician who is willing to let you purchase all materials and pay them strictly for labor that is great, but doesn't always work. They mostly will tell you that they will NOT warranty the materials, which is their way of making more money by purchasing all materials because they markup everything. It is extortion. You guys can do it. Electricians are not worth the money they charge. Sorry, not sorry.

[@MasonDixonAcres]

Thank you for the encouragement!! We did talk with the inspector ahead of time to make sure he was okay with us doing our own electrical work. He had no issues with that at all, because he has seen our attention to detail in all the previous work and trusts that we do our homework (and have no motivation to cut corners on our own house like many production builders do)

[@allthingsgrowing]

@@MasonDixonAcres keep it up. Well built now, means less worry later.

[@timolson7005]

48 is the edge of the sheet rock.. 46 is all holes and you will really not like that..

[@averageliving4Life]

So what's better?

[@MasonDixonAcres]

We read mixed reviews about that! at 48 it's right at the taper, which means it needs to get mudded over. Agreed a little more work at 46 but more comfortable to use and maybe less mud in the box. Pros and cons to everything!

[@buckshot5896]

Your house should take no more than 2 days to pull all wire and mount boxes

[@roberthillyard4234]

ok but can you please keep you hands and armeas still and talk less

[@senorash]

Can you keep your opinions to yourself?