Cable work and closet-wall schematics.

6/19/19

(Above: Jacobhouse’s panel box with newly arrived cables jutting from its central bottom hole.)

Building Summary: Today, I began by measuring and cutting three pieces of 2″ PVC conduit and collecting 4 couplings (three plain and one screw). My intent was to bring the conduit curving in from the utility hole all the way up and into the panel box along with the cables that ran within it. I ended up being able to do this by sliding on all the aforementioned pieces*, slipping the cable up and through the panel box’s bottom, and then flexing all the PVC pieces into place. The task proved difficult, but as shown in the image above, the goal was achieved.

This was ensued by planning and collecting materials for the Closet-Wall. I took measurements of almost every dimension available within that orifice, figured up a schematic, and then collected the six 2x4s Madre and I acquired yesterday, a spare 20′ 2×6, and the drawer slides I ordered online a few weeks ago.

Commentary: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” That’s what I told Padre last night when he was asking me how I would bring 2″ conduit all the way up to the panel box’s bottom, and this morning, I almost had to eat those words. Almost. It was a fairly simple process cutting and slipping the pipe pieces over the service cables, but it was not so easy when it came to fitting those pieces together whilst simultaneously feeding those cables into the panel box. That bit, I believe, could easily be classified as a shenanigan. Especially when one of those heavy cables fell from a little ledge where I had it resting and gave me a hefty poke to the shoulder blade. Nevertheless, it all turned out well, and I was able to preserve the above-quoted adage.

As for the closet-wall planning, it is coming together. Here’s an attempt at a brief summary: I plan to use 2x6s for the two front-to-back boards on bottom and top (will provide sturdy corner fastening) while 2x4s will be used to span the gap from bottom to top and from side to side. Drawer slides, meanwhile, will be attached to two central support boards running from front to back. This is likely a confusing description, so I will include an image of my crudely drawn plans below:

Final Note: Tomorrow I will begin work on the Closet-Wall until / if Alan Hendrickson shows up to perform some electrical work.

*Because the wire could fit through the panel box while the pipe fittings could not, I had to slide everything on in the correct order before pulling the cable through the box’s bottom. This order ended up being: coupling -> 11″ piece of 2″ conduit -> coupling -> 11 ½” piece of 2″ conduit -> coupling -> 11 ½” piece of 2″ conduit -> screw coupling. The amount of couplings may seem excessive, but every length of pipe I added gave the line more flexibility, and flexibility was required for the task I had in mind.