How To Upgrade Old Knob and Tube Electrical Wiring
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Can I upgrade circuit wiring and outlets and still keep the lighting circuit in tack? How to Fix Old Electrical Wiring Problems: Guide for Repairing Old Wiring, Upgrading Knob and Tube Wiring and a Fuse Box |
Guide for Repairing and Upgrading Old Electrical Wiring
Electrical Question: Can I upgrade circuit wiring and outlets and still keep the lighting circuit in tack?
My 1907 house has a 200 amp service, and the kitchen has been upgraded with new circuits.
- Lights and Outlets on One Circuit
Trouble is, the remainder of the house, the lights in all the remaining rooms along with the outlets are all on one circuit. In the middle of this circuit, there remains a small fuse box, with four fuses, three are active, but I can only identify two of them. Last week, the circuit blew, and I flipped the breaker. - The upstairs portion of the circuit regained power, but the lower portion, the outlets in the first floor have no power. I checked the fuse box for that circuit, and none were burned.
- Old Fuse Box Panel
I moved fuses around to see if possibly that was the problem. no luck. - I can get to most of the bottom floor outlets, from the basement, but my house is solid masonry and of course, where the wires are run are in the plaster and lath interior walls.
- Circuit Wiring
My question is, can I change the portion of the circuit that is currently not working, upgrade the outlets that I can reach and still keep the lighting (functioning) portion of the circuit in tack? - I haven’t been able to find diagram of how to do this. Do you have suggestions?
- Unfortunately, I am have no income, so calling an electrician is a last resort.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Background: Rebecca, a Handy-woman from Jackson, MO.
Additional Comments: Thanks for your site, and thanks for your help!
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Rebeca.
How to Fix Old Electrical Wiring Problems
Application: Upgrade Old Electrical Wiring.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. This electrical wiring project is best performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor or Certified Electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience and ability to work with tools.
Precaution: Identify the circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Important: Outdated wiring and circuit components should be replaced with new electrical materials of the same voltage and amperage rating.
Notice: Upgrades to Home Electrical Wiring should be done according to local and national electrical codes and installing new or replacement electrical parts or equipment will require a permit and be inspected.
- Identifying the existing wiring circuits and access to the wiring is the key factor when upgrading old electrical wiring.
- Even though the finish walls are lathe and plaster it may be possible to fish new wiring in to upgrade the wiring to existing outlets.
- One barrier may be fire blocks, which were commonly placed about four feet from the floor and were installed in each wood framed stud bay or section cross-ways, from side to side.
- This block of wood prevents fishing a new wire down to the existing outlet box unless that portion of the wall is opened enough to drill a hole through the block, intercept the wire and continue feeding it down to the outlet box.
- Its a time intensive and messy job, however it is possible and an alternative to removing all of the existing lathe and plaster.
Upgrading Knob and Tube Wiring and a Fuse Box
- Replacing the Fuse Box
When upgrading the existing knob and tube style wiring it is important to disconnect the existing portion of the circuit that has been replaced with new wiring, and it is best to remove any old or abandoned wiring. - Replacing the existing fuse box with a new sub-panel with circuit breakers would be advisable, and most likely necessary to eliminate the possibility of complications with fuses and connections within.
- The sub-panel must have a separate ground wire that is bonded back at the main electrical panel.
- The sub-panel ground wire must not be bonded with the neutral wire inside the sub-panel, the two must be separate and isolated from each other.
- The ground and neutral wires are only bonded together at the main electrical panel where the ground bond is required.
- While your at it, I would strongly suggest that consider installing smoke detectors in the home that are hard-wired with battery back up and inter-connected together so that if one goes into alarm, they all do.
IMPORTANT
Totally separating the new circuits from the existing circuits would be best, then as more upgrading is performed the new outlets can be added to the new circuit as they are removed from the old existing wiring.
I have provided the following links that lead to fully detailed information on this website that will assist you with your electrical question:
More about Upgrading Knob and Tube Wiring
Electrical Wire for the Home
Complete listing of electrical wire types and parts used for home projects with electrical code information serves as selection guidelines.
Residential Electrical Junction Boxes
Electrical Junction Boxes for Home Wiring
Understanding electrical junction boxes and what they are used for. Home electrical wiring is the process of installing electrical wire to a location that will serve electrical devices or an appliance. One very important component is the box where the wire will be installed. The type and size of the home wiring electrical boxes will depend upon the circuit size, application and its location.
Electrical Code Articles for Home Wiring
Electrical Code Directory covering electrical boxes, electrical circuit, electrical codes for outlets and electrical wiring.
The following may also be helpful for you:
Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
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Hello,
I was told that pulling a wire for a sub panel would be the best way to get power above the rooms that presently have knob and tube wiring. I need to know how do I determine what size wire to buy for this run. I have a Cutler Hammer 100 amp CH7 and 4 of the breakers, one 20 amp and three 15 amp are wired with knob and tube. The local inspector said that I could leave the knob and tube and that there isn’t any reason to install Romex unless I really want to.
Hi Bob,
The size of the wire or cable would depend on the size of the panel that would be installed, and this can only be determined by knowing what the load will actually be. If you are just replacing the bedroom circuits as mentioned then the actual loads of these circuits will need to be evaluated. The loads should also take into consideration all appliances that are plugged in during the year, including space heaters and room air conditioners. Also consider any additional loads or dedicated circuits that may be added. After this is known then the panel size and cable size may be determined.
Dave