Running wire through crown molding

[jrs0628]

Hey Guys,

I live in a two story townhouse on a slab with an attic, so running wires is a bit of a headache for me. I've been wanting to run an extra Ethernet jack near the LCD TV in the family room downstairs for a while as well as some other low voltage wiring (PIRs, contacts, etc.). I have a hybrid security system, but there are just some things that I want hard wired as well. Last weekend I came up with the bright idea of running the wire through the crown molding since it has a hollow channel in the back... I sawed off a slice of each of the corners of the molding and then no less than 2 hours later I had a new line run back to my wiring closet upstairs. Putting the slices I took down should be easy once I get all my wire runs laid out.... but I got to thinking about it, and now I want a second opinion if this is a good idea I plan on taking all my automation equipment, including security system with me when I sell my townhouse (and probably clipping and hiding most of the wires), so no one will ever damage anything by nailing through the crown molding since it will all be dead wire. Any thoughts on this?

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

If it's dead wire I guess it really shouldn't matter much.

 

[SnyperBob]

Yeah, if it's dead you should be fine. Just make sure to hide it well so the inspector doesn't complain about it. Then again, if it only took you 2 hours to put in, it'll probably take less to pull out if needed...

 

[boyfly]

here's a company that actually makes crown molding specifically for this purpose:

http://www.wiretracks.com/prod-cm.html

 

[sic0048]

I'd hate to see the cost per square ft for that system.

 

[CORT]

When my house was under construction, my electrician forgot to put an undercabinet light in a key location in the kitchen. The inpector allowed us to put an armored cable behind the crown molding to provide power to this location. It works fine. I would think what you are doing is perfectly acceptable.

 

[jrs0628]

I know this is an old post, but I figured I would update it since I finally got around to actually running the wire behind the crown molding. I took some pictures and posted them on my website along with a brief overview on what I did in case anyone ever wants to do the same. Click here to see the pictures. Thank you all for your replies!!!

 

[rogerous]

Nice job!

 

[Dave X10]

I know this is an old post, but I figured I would update it since I finally got around to actually running the wire behind the crown molding. I took some pictures and posted them on my website along with a brief overview on what I did in case anyone ever wants to do the same. Click here to see the pictures. Thank you all for your replies!!!

Nice Job, nice pictures, nice blog!!!!!

 

[Neurorad]

Nice work, Jon.

I bet it would be very easy to pull out the wires when you move, since they're retrofit. NEC says that you're supposed to label or remove all unused wires - new addition to latest revision, IIRC.

 

[cornutt]

Nice work, Jon.

I bet it would be very easy to pull out the wires when you move, since they're retrofit. NEC says that you're supposed to label or remove all unused wires - new addition to latest revision, IIRC.

The couple of times that I've had to leave an unused run of Romex in the wall, I took a Sharpie and wrote "ABANDONED" on the sheath at each end.