Important Note: Contact your local government’s municipal department to check the electrical code for your area for any wiring restrictions. You’re usually allowed to run low-voltage wires like network cables, speaker wires, and phone lines, but you may be required to hire a professional for high-voltage installations. [2] X Research source Try to work during the day so there’s natural light. If there’s enough natural light, turn off the breaker’s main circuit so there’s no power on at all. If you can’t work during the day or there’s not enough natural light, make sure you have a flashlight so you can see what you’re doing.
You can also refer to the blueprints of the space if you have them. If you’re trying to find a stud in a plaster wall, try knocking on the wall and listening for a solid thunk sound. If you hear a hollow echo, then there isn’t a stud. Try to avoid running wires through exterior walls since they typically contain braces and insulation that are difficult to work around.
The wire makes the hole you drilled easier to see so you know exactly where you need to fish the cables. You only need to do this if you plan on running wires horizontally through your attic, basement, or crawl space. If you’re hiding a mounted TV’s wires, you only need to run the wires to another electrical box a short distance up your wall.
If you have a finished space above or below the area where you’re running wires, you may need to cut access into your floor or ceiling. Otherwise, you can use some of the alternative methods to run wires mentioned later on.
Keep the hole at least 1 1⁄4 inches (3. 2 cm) from the edge of the wall plate to follow building and electrical codes. If you’re working in a tight crawl space, you can use a flex drill bit to make the hole from several feet away. Shine a flashlight into the hole you just made to double-check for any obstructions behind the drywall.
If you’re cutting a hole that you’ll need to patch later, cut at an inward slant. That way, you’ll be able to fit the piece back in without it falling through the hole.
Ask a helper to look for the end of the fish tape at the other end. They might be able to see it as you feed it into the wall and help guide you in the right direction.
Keep the end of the wire completely wrapped so there’s less risk of tearing the insulation.
It may help if you have someone on the other side of the wall who can pull back on the wire if it gets snagged on anything. [12] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020. Alternatively, tie a metal nut to a string and lower it through the hole from above. Once the string reaches the hole below, tie the cable and string together so you can pull it back up.
Once the wires are connected, turn your power back on and test that the connection works properly.
Use a flex drill bit to reach the fire block from the hole in your wall. Cut through the drywall at the fire block. Then, either drill a hole through the center or use a chisel to carve out a 3⁄4 in × 1 in (1. 9 cm × 2. 5 cm) notch. [17] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020. Cover the notch with a metal nail plate to protect the cable.
Magnet pulls may not work properly if the wall cavity has ductwork or pipes since the magnet may be attracted to them.
Cover the edges of the boards with metal nail plates where the wires run through them so they don’t get damaged.
