Panel Repair Question

[bfuller83]

I am looking at buying a house that has been vacant for a while and someone broke in and stole all the copper from the electrical panel. I should say they cut it pretty short so there is not way to connect it to the breakers. My question is how could I repair what I have. Is there a splice kit I could use or should I just pull all the wiring into the attic and put in a box and splice it there? I guess the other option would be just running new but it looks like the wiring has just been redone all newer looking romex. Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks Much!

[HayZee518]

well, according to code all splices and terminations are to be in an enclosed junction box - that puts the idea of using butt splices out the window. AND you (can't) just wirenut pieces of cable onto the stubs. next option would be to follow the wire backwards to a junction box and pull a new feeder and/or go back to the first outlet the cable feeds and pull in a new feeder to the outlet string. where the wire goes to a switch - it may be a little difficult to snake a wire up into the wall so where the wire does go through the floor, put a junction box here and splice on and run the feeder to the panel. just mind you that you take care and use wire of the proper - same gauge you are splicing onto.