Bob Reynolds
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2008
- Messages
- 133
- Reaction score
- 76
That last picture tells a story.
This appears to have been an unfinished basement that was finished. The outlet in the ceiling was most likely the "pre-wire" installed at the time of construction for use in the future when the basement was finished off. The size of the box is the clue to this. Also to pass inspection in 1978, it probably needed to be an outlet rather than a closed plated off pigtail circuit. Inspectors often will not allow stray circuits and would require the electrician to completely remove the wire if it were not an outlet.
When the basement was finished, the light switch was installed (most likely improperly) that switches all of the outlets off. At the time the basement was finished, the outlets in the ceiling should have been removed and the wires for the additional outlets (in the room) should have been run from that box. The box then should have been plated off.
You can easily fix this and use the outlet box to run wires for additional outlets in this room. There should be at least on on each wall. An electrician can do this for you. If you want to run the wires (for the outlets and light) and have the electrician actually hook them up, that would save you some money and insure they are hooked up properly. You can use 12 (20 amp breaker) or 14 gauge (15 amp breaker) wire and have up to 12 outlets on one circuit.
This appears to have been an unfinished basement that was finished. The outlet in the ceiling was most likely the "pre-wire" installed at the time of construction for use in the future when the basement was finished off. The size of the box is the clue to this. Also to pass inspection in 1978, it probably needed to be an outlet rather than a closed plated off pigtail circuit. Inspectors often will not allow stray circuits and would require the electrician to completely remove the wire if it were not an outlet.
When the basement was finished, the light switch was installed (most likely improperly) that switches all of the outlets off. At the time the basement was finished, the outlets in the ceiling should have been removed and the wires for the additional outlets (in the room) should have been run from that box. The box then should have been plated off.
You can easily fix this and use the outlet box to run wires for additional outlets in this room. There should be at least on on each wall. An electrician can do this for you. If you want to run the wires (for the outlets and light) and have the electrician actually hook them up, that would save you some money and insure they are hooked up properly. You can use 12 (20 amp breaker) or 14 gauge (15 amp breaker) wire and have up to 12 outlets on one circuit.