Is it possible for me to splice romex cable together?

Question

I am installing an outdoor power outlet and I ran short on Romex. I have another smaller piece that will get me to the junction box. Can I splice these together like speaker wire?

Answer 1

You can NEVER splice wire carrying household current [110-120 volts] without a junction box! They come in plastic or steel...depends on the local building codes...if your using romex [plastic covered] wire, usually plastic junction boxes are OK. Bring both lines into the box, fasten them with the clips provided with the box [or add them if the box has none]strip the ends, and attach like colored wiress [black, white, green] to each other using wire nuts. You are saying "outdoor", but don't say if the junction will be outdoors. If so, then you must use an outdoor, waterproof box. If it's underground, you should not use any box, as ALL boxes, plastic or steel, indoors or out MUST be accessible...they cannot be covered with Sheetrock or anything else.

   That's the long answer. The short one is to avoid such junctions if you can. It may cost a bit more, but in the long run,a single line is always better than adding an otherwise unnecessary junction.

PS: Most outdoor application require the circuit to be protected with a GFI [also called GFCI]. This can be in the circuit breaker panel, or in the outlet itself. GFCI=Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.

Answer 2

Yes just use twisties in the box