SECTION 16: Elctrical and Cladding Installation
In most areas, the electrical must be installed by a certified electrician. Please consult your local buildingdepartment for rules and regulations regarding the installation of electrical. C-Thru's patented electrical raceway
system is UL approved.
Note: The electrical wires can be fed through the electrical header beam, utility mullions, the roof attachmentchannel, and the fan beams in the roof panels.
16-1. Routing the Main Electrical Source
The main electrical source will enter the sunroom at the right or left side wall electrical header at house wall.
You may choose to tap into an existing electrical source on the house wall or run conduit to the electric box andcreate a new circuit (Figure 16.1). Please follow the requirements of your local building code.
IMPORTANT! DO NOT ACTIVATE THIS CIRCUIT UNTIL ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. CONTACT WITH A LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRE MAY RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
16-2. Mounting the Interior Electrical Boxes
Note: all interior electrical boxes (except for the fan beam) will be placed inside the channels of the utility mullions.
Note the location of all electrical switches and outlets on the C-Thru room layout sheet. Place an electrical box
(J-box) in the utility mullion channel. If there is a screw or rivet in this location, remove it. Fasten the J-box to
the utility mullion with four #8 x 1/2" tek screws (Figure 16.2). If you removed a rivet or tek screw in the utilitymullion, add one above and below the J-box. Repeat this process for every outlet or switch in the sunroom.
Note: Each electrical box requires a threaded chase nipple or plastic insert where the wire will be threaded intothe box.
Note: If a fan will be installed in the room, a junction box will be needed on the roof panel that contains the fanbeam. Follow the same procedure described above.
16-3. Chase Nipple/Plug Installation
A threaded chase nipple or plug must be used at every wiring junction of the sunroom’s structural componentssuch as between a utility mullion and the electrical header beam. Check your local building code to make sure.
Drill a 7/8" hole into the header beam (from the underside) that will act as a junction between the utility mullionand the electrical header beam. With a locknut threaded on one end, slide a 1-1/2" x 3/4" chase nipple throughthe hole. Secure the top of the chase nipple with a locknut (Figure 16.3).
16-4. Installing Wiring
Thread the wiring to all of the switches, outlets, and fixtures, according to the desired operation of the electricalsystem. Use 12 or 14 gauge single strand solid Romex wiring.
Note: For fan beam wiring, thread the wiring through the roof attachment channel to the fan beam.
16-5. Installing Vinyl Cladding (Omega Rooms Only)
The vinyl cladding will cover the utility mullion channels on the inside and outside of the room. Measure from
the bottom track to the header beam, and cut the vinyl cladding to length. Make sure the cuts conform to the
angles of the header beam. Mark the location of each electrical J-box. Snap the vinyl cladding into place witha soft mallet.
Use a rotary cutting tool (or a rotary cutting bit on a drill) to cut the openings for the electrical boxes. Simplyinsert the cutting tool through the vinyl cladding and follow the drill bit along the inside of the J-box (Figure 16.4).
16-6. Installing Electrical Switches and Outlets
The first outlet on the electrical circuit in the sunroom must have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) typeoutlet. Make the electrical connections to all of the outlets, switches, and fixtures.
16-7. Attaching Snap Covers
For Alpha rooms, the electrical raceways between the modules will be covered with 2-1/4" wide aluminum snapcovers (Figure 16.5). Cut the snap covers to length and snap them onto the open channels with a rubber mallet.
Measure from the bottom track to the bottom of each J-Box, cut the snap cover to length, and snap it into place.
Measure from the top of the top of the J-box to the electrical header for the next piece. Repeat this processuntil all of the expo
Note: Snap covers should be cut a little longer than needed, as they can slide into the bottom track or headerbeam.
The electrical header beam will receive a 1" wide electrical snap cover to hide the raceway. Measure the lengthof the raceway, cut the snap cover to length, and attach the cover into place with a rubber mallet.
16-8. Attaching Beauty Caps
Areas to use vinyl beauty caps include the roof attachment channel (Figure 16.5), above the rafter cap, belowthe beam roof rafters when a shutter rail is present, solid to glass stiffener, and remaining open channels.
Measure and cut the beauty caps to the appropriate length and snap them into place using a rubber mallet.
16-9. Mounting Outside Fixtures and Outlets (Optional)
Outside electrical fixtures will be surface mounted to the exterior of a utility mullion. Depending on the locationof the fixture, drill a 7/8" hole through the center of the utility mullion or the top of the header beam. The claddingor snap cover may have to be temporarily removed to drill this hole. With a locknut threaded on one end, slide
a 2" x 3/4" chase nipple through the hole. Secure the exterior electrical box to the chase nipple with a locknut.
A weatherproof exterior outlet is available from C-Thru.