and you have to look what has and hasn't been done.

Fuses are a bit outdated, but if your wiring is a bit marginal can be somewhat better than breakers. Be glad you don't have the old bulb and tube stuff.

My last house, built in 1919 had 100-amp service and breakers. The wiring was all BX-type--a flexible steel casing that held the rubber/cloth wrapped wires. All 2-prong outlets. I upgraded the service to 200-amps and ran a few new circuits, but the old ones were fine. To ground your outlets just put in a 3-prong plug and run a grounding wire from the outlet to the metal box that holds the switch or outlet. (Bear in mind that 3-prongs didn't really reach the market until the late 60s/early 70s. My current 1967 house still has some 2-prong outlets.)

I'm not sure, but I think you can still add GFIC outlets on a 2-wire system as long as you install the grounding wires.

But you DO NOT need to replace all your wires. When you re-hab or open walls, take the opportunity to do it then, but it is not something you must do. Obviously if you run new wires or circuits it will be with modern wire. Re-wiring is a real PITA. If you must, take it on a little at a time unless you can afford to have someone do it for you.

Speaking of wiring there are codes for this stuff which do vary locally: Genral rule is 14-gauge wire = 15 amp breakers and 12-gauge = 20 amp breakers. DO NOT run 20 amp breakers on 14 gauge wire. It does not give adequate protection and the wires can get dangerously hot before the breaker trips. You can go the other way, though.

There are lots of home-owner handyman books on this stuff. Buy a couple and read. Most ordinary electrical work is not hard, but you need to pay attention to the details. Get a pro to do the service upgrade and major stuff.

posted by 24.52.16...

• OT Home fuse box, 93Gator, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 10:31:26
  • Thanks for the help!, 93Gator, Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:59:11
  • keep in mind that the wiring probably isn't original..., nolamike, Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:24:14
  • Let me jump in on this... have owned a 1919 house, Noel, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:28:18 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Be very cautious following this advise....., MI-Roger , Sat, 18 Mar 2006 09:16:43
      • You are correct. The BX casing made a ground path, Noel, Sat, 18 Mar 2006 14:03:19
  • Very concerned, but not about fuse box...., Chaz, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:31:27
    • I agree........., Gebster, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:27:16
      • I disagree........., Pat, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 09:36:55
        • Plug in just 1 large A/C and your house might burn down, Chaz, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:18:17
          • 2 window a/c units run fine., Pat, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:44:44
            • Re: 2 window a/c units run fine., soneway, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:28:03
      • Re: I agree........., jp, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 08:27:56
      • Re: I agree........., 93Gator, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 06:25:44
        • Re: I agree........., SilverAeroGuy, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:40:05
  • Re: OT Home fuse box, Pat, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:31:09
  • You're actually lucky the house is as old as it is....., MI-Roger , Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:55:27
    • Re: You're actually lucky the house is as old as it is., 93Gator, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:17:53
  • Easy, common upgrades...., Mike Lynch , Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:37:56
    • Mechanical Engineering 1996. Go Gators!, 93Gator, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:12:02
  • Re: OT Home fuse box, cryptical, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 10:38:19
    • Home has CAC, 93Gator, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 10:50:39
      • Re: Home has CAC, Bill Homer , Thu, 16 Mar 2006 11:55:23
    • Re: OT Home fuse box, nuysSAAB , Thu, 16 Mar 2006 10:49:34

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: wrong Chaz, he's ..., Dave 37, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:27:09
• Next by Date: <Insert Irish joke here>, Mike Lynch, Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:37:11
• Main General Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)