For the rough inspection, how much wire length should be left protruding from the box? Should this length include or exclude any pigtails?

re: Pigtails, etc.	Warren Goodrich	5:54 pm tuesday october 2, 2001

The NEC says that you must have a minimum of 6" tails for all conductors in any box. If this is a device box [switch or receptacle] then any wire should be capable of reaching a minimum of 3" beyond the face of the box approximately. This would allow for 3" inside the device box reaching the face of the box and the remaining 3" of the 6" required tail still sticking out of the device box from that face of that box. Notice that the words any wire or conductor. That means all wires inculding the pigtail that must be 6" long and the wires it connects to must be 6" long. This applies to any box, but the larger boxes may be 12" deep or deeper. The 6" minimum would not apply beyond the face of the 12" deep box.

You should find that if you bend you conductors in a "Z" pattern with the 6" tails included it will actually be easier to fold these wires into the box that short stiff wires.

Although you didn't ask when you are dealing with Romex the sheath of the cable must enter the box a minimum of 1/4" into the box then the 6" tail starts its measurement.

Also keep in mind box fill maximums allowed in Article 370 of the NEC limiting how many wires can be installed in a certain box.

Hope this helps

Wg

re: Pigtails, etc.	sawdust	6:30 am wednesday october 3, 2001

Thanks, Wg, for this very thoughtful response...it was very helpful and has cleared up my confusion