Straw Bale Electrical

Kindra Welch, owner and chief builder with Clay Sand Straw, demonstrates how to install electrical wiring in a straw bale house.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• straw bale
• electrical wiring
• cob house
• construction
• permaculture
• natural building
• fun
• fear no dirt
• texas

[storminmorgan0311]

You should use small pvc pipe so if you have to rewire the wall you can wire pull new wire through. Also the wire is protected.

[yeshuason]

It would greatly increase the labor trying to work conduit into the straw. If you surface mounted the conduit it would greatly increase the plaster media to cover it and the labor to plaster. This is directly comparable to standard stick frame wiring, with less drilling and threading. I personally do not think Conduit would be worth the cost/time/effort.

I am a licensed Journeyman Electrician by the way.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@BrokenRRT its not a switch box, its a light box.....

[TheDudeRulez09]

@storminmorgan0311 not necessary and uses a a material thats not wanted or needed. If you choose to use conduit it is of course your choice but this method is just as fine..

[assetrecoverycanada]

Awesome!!



[benskin79]

PVC would be a good idea here, not just for later rewiring, but to eliminate potential damage to the shielding on the romex, as she clearly demonstrated by yanking it through her poorly drilled hole. Romex shielding isn't really much tougher than THHN, and I would hate to realize that I left an open snag the hard way the first time a circuit was energized through straw!

[BrokenRRT]

Is there reason you are placing the gang box so high? Just wondering because most code requires 48" on-center for the box. Thanks for the video!

[BrokenRRT]

@storminmorgan0311 I asked this very question to a lady in Tucson. She said it was code in some places NOT to use any conduit because of moisture. Some re saying it causes condensatation I call bullshit!

[mommyrottie]

I love that you have your little punkin with you! Thank you for the great explanation and example.

[idahotandj]

Would the electrical inspector want to see the romex secured within 12" of each box? NEC Section 314.17(C) how would you satisfy that requirement in straw?