Move the light fixture down about 6 inches? ;)

Beat me to it!

1) Fire whoever cut the wire. No reason for it. Never bury wires, even if unused. Should have wire nutted leads, and put a blank plate on it.
2) proper repair would be to (a) cut back sheetrock and find some slack. (b) move box to make slack. (c) If you can possibly strip leads, a push in connector would need less slack than a wire nut.

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Most electrical code prohibits a junction box inside a wall.

I'd see if you can find the source for the wire and pull a new one. If you home is on a basement and the wire on an inside wall with a source through a switch, it wouldn't be hard to replace the wire.

I think it has something to do with a wire nut causing heat and the fact that if the wire nut came loose, it wouldn't be serviceable and could short out causing a fire.

I would remove that box, a hacksaw blade between the box and wood, and cut the nails.

Then strip the wire, use an 'old work box' and push-in connectors to add new tails.

Easy-peasy, 30 minute (1 beer) job, less than $10.

With the box out, I also suspect a 'gentle yet persuasive' pull on the wire will find another inch or so.

^^^ That!
Most electricians will leave a little extra. If you give the wire a gentle tug you might get a bit more to work with.... unless the electrician used a wire staple on the stud the box is mounted to... Then you're shafted. A pair of needle nose pliars should tell the story pretty quickly without removing the box.

A box in the wall is permitted with an access cover. Is there a hutch or cabinet below that could hide a box?

The new box could also be a switched outlet which then feeds the sconce....

Or a box with a receptacle that is not wired. It's simply a J-box.

Less liked solution:

Cage clamp butt splice.

Wago and others make them.

The staple should not clamp the wire...if it's done right it will pull through. If it's done wrong it won't.

Thanks guys for all the info. There isn;t any slack in that wire. If there was then I would not be dealing with this issue. I'm gonna tackle this in the morning.

Maybe cut the hole in the box( if it's plastic)
that the wire is run through to beable to pull the wire a little more forward.

Get a cheap extendable utility knike and cut the sheathing from the romex.. at that point you should beable to add pig tails.


Or...pull that box completely out..should be held on with only 1 or 2 nails, do what you have to with the wires and replace the box with a remodel type.
It's easy to install, just 2 wings the pull to the back side of the sheetrock..

Don’t cut the wire!

My experience with such matters is that no matter how many times I cut something, a board, a wire, a finger it’s still too short.

Cover it up. She had her chance.

OK guys, finished this project. Cut out the bottom of the box and it gave just enough in the wire to get to it and strip it. Tha'ts 156 on a list of about 700, down and out.

Good job!!! It was probably easier than you were anticipating it being..