basement is fine if possible. If there it attic, it is fair game as well, just place the box up high enough out of the insulation. If you just don't want to go up there, call any electrician and they won't have a choice but to do it for you at whatever their hourly rate is.

"If there it attic, it is fair game as well, just place the box up high enough out of the insulation. "

Insulation is not a 'finished surface' and the box is not required to be above the insulation.

It can be a PITA for a latter person to find the box though.

Yeah, I'm thinking basement will be the only way to go.

I'm nice, so I will mount the box above the insulation, just wanted to make sure there wasn't another option that I was unaware of, before going into that dismal attic hell. :)

Heh, speaking of PITAs, the 'Former' clearly did not consider me when doing his work. The problem with this attic is threefold and darn near diabolical:

Recent 94-100 degree temps + 80-100% humidity + broken attic fan (they were supposed to have fix before closing) = 110-154 degree daytime attic temps, and a brisk 90-108 at night.

~18" blown celluose insulation that's never been disturbed and has settled to become a highly immobile mass. I hate this stuff. It's like trying to find a needle outside after a blizzard, in low light andwearing a small oven, and while kicking through the resists-moving-snow to find the next 1 1/2" wide balance beam to perch on.

Almost as annoying, whoever did the electrical attached 14/2 on top of *every* joist or other potential stepping spot with uninsulated staples. (Is that even legal?) Seems like every place I kick insulation off in my search for places to stand, there's a wire.

I'm sure after the years, heat and traffic weaken the sheathing, that combo of electricity, metal and fluffy cellulose will really go together well. :)

Anyway, thanks again for the info. Off to the attic I go :)

Kel

" Unfortunately the previous homeowner was an idiot, so there's *zero* slack in one wire on both circuits..."

That is actually pretty standard.

There is no requirement to leave excess cable in the walls for later rework.

It would mainly just increase the cost of materials for every job with a very limited potential for pay-back.