House wiring rant

[MikeD74T]

There may not be anything wrong with knob & tube wiring, as such. But about 30 years ago, I installed some ceiling fans in my parents' home. My grandfather bought that house in 1943, but it was built in 1922 and had that knob & tube wiring in the attic. And if you touched a wire, all the insulation just crumbled and fell off. Scary, to say the least.

But in reality the insulation never needed to be there in the first place. Insulation doesn't keep the electricity in it keeps everything else out. In walls with proper & complete seperation there's no hazard. I know insulation is added just in case seperation fails.
Different subject but what I find really scary is when the interior insulation disintergrates in newer multi conductor wire. My workplace replaced miles of SE cord a couple years ago from temp wiring & pendant lights where the jacket looked great but inner insulation would crumble if the cord was flexed. MikeD74t

 

[JDgreen227]

But in reality the insulation never needed to be there in the first place. Insulation doesn't keep the electricity in it keeps everything else out. In walls with proper & complete seperation there's no hazard. I know insulation is added just in case seperation fails.
Different subject but what I find really scary is when the interior insulation disintergrates in newer multi conductor wire. My workplace replaced miles of SE cord a couple years ago from temp wiring & pendant lights where the jacket looked great but inner insulation would crumble if the cord was flexed. MikeD74t

I have never heard of that type of wiring and doing a Google search only turned up a mention of "SE type cable with a red, black, and bare conductor" for a dryer. Could you possibly be referring to the flexible, plastic-jacketed type used for trouble lights? And if that is so, I am sure few people would use that type of cord for house wiring.

 

[brokenknee]

Found this when I opened up the walls when doing my kitchen remodel. Also found similar "issues" behind a closet wall and in the attic.

 

[JDgreen227]

Found this when I opened up the walls when doing my kitchen remodel. Also found similar "issues" behind a closet wall and in the attic.

View attachment 247571

AHA !!! I could recognize grsthegreat's handiwork anyplace.....:laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

AHA !!! I could recognize grsthegreat's handiwork anyplace.....:laughing:

dammmm , you cough me :laughing:

I have a nifty side cutter that removes the crimp sleeves in 1 second flat....

 

[aczlan]

I was working on the outlets in the kitchen/dining room tonight.
I twisted the grounds together (so that they were tight enough to not wiggle) and added a crimp sleeve.
I then replaced the white decora outlets with almond regular outlets.

Before:

After:


Aaron Z

 

[grsthegreat]

I was working on the outlets in the kitchen/dining room tonight.
I twisted the grounds together (so that they were tight enough to not wiggle) and added a crimp sleeve.
I then replaced the white decora outlets with almond regular outlets.

Before:
View attachment 248232
After:
View attachment 248233

Aaron Z

there you go..

 

[slowzuki]

Knob and tube actually has a very good safety record. Still permitted to use it to extend a knob and tube system up here.

Re disintegrating wiring, its usually SOW cord I find falling apart.

 

[grsthegreat]

Legally we are allowed to extend a knob and tube system here also, But MY insurance company will not allow it.

I have a rider on my commercial policy that forbids me doing anything with K&T except removing it.

so i don't tough it

 

[aczlan]

The most important picture:


Aaron Z

 

[JDgreen227]

The most important picture:
View attachment 248265

Aaron Z

I wish I had a buck for every time I have plugged one of those testers into an outlet over the last 40 years.

 

[GregbkH]

Generally, I pigtail the switch/receptacle grounds to the box ground and the equipment grounding conductor. Up to 6 12 awg grounding conductors in a 4 gang box. I use a gray wire nut, one rated for the number of conductors being bonded. I never heard of a green one in multiple sizes.

Are these crimp sleeves rated for this purpose? (multiple conductors?) I've never used one.