Just hit 50 electrical boxes wired in my basement and the 51st nearly burned the house down

Thought I had it all figured out after 50 boxes. Then I went to put in a new outlet and realized I'd been stripping way too much wire on every single one. The exposed copper was almost touching the metal box on the last one. Anyone else hit a milestone and then realize they've been doing something dangerous the whole time?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren_carr1d ago

Wait, is this really that big of a deal? I mean yeah, you stripped too much wire but it didnt actually burn anything down right? Sounds like you caught it before it was a real fire. Ive definitely left way more copper exposed than that before and nothing happened. Its not like you were flicking the breaker on and off while holding a lit match. The box is metal sure but unless youre pushing the wire right up against the screw terminal its probably fine. Feels like everyone on here loves to panic about minor stuff.

gavin_kim31d ago

Lots of copper exposed and nothing happened" is exactly the kind of thinking that gets people shocked later lol. I heard an electrician say most house fires start from stupid stuff like this that just sat there for years slowly getting worse.