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How-To

How to Strip Cable Inside Electrical Boxes

Electrician Cliff Popejoy demonstrates the time-tested way to meet code without making it difficult to fit everything in the box.

By Fine Homebuilding Editors

In this gem from the Fine Homebuilding Video Vault, electrician Cliff Popejoy shows how he strips cable inside electrical boxes, leaving the minimal amount of sheathing to meet code while keeping it possible to fit everything in the box. The dated video includes tools and tips that stand up to the test of time.

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Previous: How to Wire a Switch Box Next: How to Wire a Bathroom: Getting the Boxes Ready

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View Comments

  1. geoffhazel | Dec 08, 2016 01:55pm | #1

    the dedicated tool is nice. anything is better than a normal utility knife, which always seems to find the hand that is holding the wire instead of the wire itself when slitting or trimming the sheath.

  2. BGodfrey | Dec 08, 2016 03:08pm | #2

    I've been using the first method for 36 years. I like the second method better and I'll be trying it within the week. Got any more electrical videos? I went to the "Videos" page and see nothing.

  3. user-5478428 | Dec 08, 2016 04:03pm | #3

    Great video! Love it!

  4. calpolyag03 | Dec 08, 2016 04:18pm | #4

    Don't know who this person is but I take exception to his methods of stripping romex. I have been doing electrical for over 30 years and seen a lot of good as well as sloppy wiring. First is never use a utility knife inside a box as this person did. Why? Because if you slip and cut across the wire coating you have now made that conductor useless according to code. Second off you leave way to much jacket inside the box which is considered a part of the box fill. The second method is much better but I was taught to strip the jacket off before putting the wire in the box. Very quick easiest way of rough wiring. I also leave about one inch of jacket inside the box. Next is why the two makings on the stud? All you floor boxes should be at one height and all you switch boxes should be at another height. If you go around having multiple marking on the stud you boxes could be at different heights which is unacceptable. This guy could never work for me.......

  5. user-2922866 | Dec 20, 2016 12:28pm | #5

    just use lineman's tool, cut at the end of the wire and pull the jacket to split....why complicate things with "special" tools?

  6. ktkcad | Jan 05, 2017 07:34pm | #6

    Newer color coded jackets are self scored and all you have to do is pull up the ground wire to strip it.

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