Anybody ID this funky box beside fireplace?

To the right of my electric fireplace (California) I have a switch that powers an igniter to a gas fed fireplace. It’s kinda a California thing.. I know.
Below it is a capped box with the wires tied together. Was hoping for a simple black and white wire scenario, and when I opened it.. holy smokes. WTH!?
I can ID the colors but can a conventional outlet be tied in? The wires seem lighter in gauge, etc.
I know it’s a truck forum. TV being installed on Monday and the geek squad doesn’t do this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance.
Steve

 

No, can't put a conventional receptacle on those wires.

 

Ahhhh crap. Had my doubts. Thanks Warren

 

Yeah, sorry. A receptacle would require a 12-2 awg romex and a 20 amp circuit w/ no more than 7 (I think) receptacles total on the same breaker.

 

Looks like maybe at one point connection for a volume control for music, possibly a 12v dimmer. Wiring is way too light for any outlet.

 

those are very thin. maybe for a thermostat or some sort of low voltage application... did you put a multimeter on them?

 

How high up on the wall is it? Do you have an alarm system? My house has a few that were pre-wired for future motion sensors as part of the alarm system. They just put the wires in and blanked them off.

 

Looks like some optical inputs for a television and or a sound bar...

 

@Tierhog
It’s hard to tell by the photo what kind of wiring that is. The two original wires looks like conventional wiring and the other two look like a low voltage wire. Those wire nuts are something you typically see in low voltage or data communication situations. Can you send a pic from farther out OP? A pic of your fireplace would help me determine if you will have an access panel that may show if you have the same wiring running to it.

 

what is beneath the tape?

 

I chased it to a low voltage switch for the fireplace. Sadly I have to get an outlet there for a tv and it’s on the other wall about six feet away. Guess I need an electrician. ☹️

 

Do you have any other outlets closer or an attic space above your wall? Sometimes it’s not a big deal to run an additional outlet from a junction box in the attic or piggy back from another outlet. It makes a difference if it’s an interior wall versus an exterior wall. Exterior walls are typically more of a pain due to insulation, possible plumbing and fire blocking.

 

Closest outlet is marked in red. Red is proposed path to new box as well, yellow is tv power “path”.

Tv might go in other room if this turns out to be a silly idea.

Fireplace is below proposed tv position. Above are boys rooms.. no crawlspace but there is an attic with power.

No basement either. Just slab.

 

switches to left are low voltage

 

Most fireplaces have a decent amount of open space for the chimney flue. So if you have an attic I would go take a look above the fireplace. You may be able to have an electrician install a junction box in the attic that will be access panel and run a new wire down the wall to a remodel box.

 

One other thing to keep in mind when having a tv above a fireplace is the angle you will have to watch tv. Most people don’t realize till after it’s installed that they have to keep their head looking upward all the time. This is often uncomfortable to watch tv while looking up versus having the tv at a more parallel viewing angel while sitting. Just something to consider before you finish the install.

 

Could it be for a backup battery pack so you can switch on the fireplace when there is a power outage?

 

Sure thing. Thanks for your guidance. I might just put it in LR. Lol. That sounds pretty pricey. TV is bad enough lol

 

I’m
Betting it’s a remote option.

 

I have a gas fireplace and that looks like the wires for the remote control/ thermostat sending unit.

 

Awesome Jim.. it felt like I was on the right track...

You guys are great in a pinch!

 

Hopefully that's the answer.