Fishing Cable from an Upper Floor
Also see:This page contains instructions for fishing electrical cable from a receptacle outlet on an upper floor, for a new light fixture or wall receptacle in the room below. Use these links to find an electrical source for a new outlet, cut holes in wallboard, run cable through walls and get tips for fishing cable.
Remove the Receptacle
To tap an electrical source from a receptacle on an upper floor, remove the receptacle and outlet box and disconnect the wires.
Cut the wall and bore a hole in the sole plate in the upper room. Also cut holes in the wall and ceiling corner in the room below. Push the fish tape from the lower room, through the sole plate to the source.
Pull Cable Through the Floor
Tape cable to the fish tape and pull it through the sole plate and into the ceiling cavity below.
Pull a Switch Loop
To feed a new ceiling fixture, first pull new cable for a switch loop from the new switch location, up to the ceiling corner.
Cable to a Ceiling Fixture
Next, push the fish tape through the light fixture hole, tape both cables to it and pull them to the ceiling opening.
Cable to a Wall Outlet
To feed a new receptacle, push the fish tape up from the new outlet hole and to the hole in the ceiling corner. Tape the end of the cable from the upper floor to the fish tape and pull it to the new receptacle opening.