Electric circuits in old houses--the Random Approach

Awl--

I got a 1920 English Tudor in Yonkers, NY. Cloth wiring, good
shape/quality, soldered splices throughout (a very good thing).
I also have TWENTY fused circuits in the main house. Sounds good, so far.
But here's the catch:
Any given fuse will control a few outlets and lights ALL OVER the house!!
There is no rhyme or reason as to what fuse is controlling whatever.

Was this random/statistical approach done on purpose, sort of "averaging
out" likely usage of a circuit by spreading it all over the house?
Or was the installer lazy/on drugs?
Inyone else have a situation like this, and if so, were you able to do
anything by way of improving it?
I would much like to "consolidate" circuits room by room, on a fuse/breaker.
TIA.
----
Mr. P.V.'d (formerly Droll Troll), Yonkers, NY
Ever-preparing for The Grand Insertion
Party Nominee, IPPVM
Independent Party of the Proctologically Violated®© (M)asses
"That's proly not a hemorrhoid you're feeling.... "
entropic3.14decay at optonline2.718 dot net; remove pi and e to reply--ie,
all d'numbuhs

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on October 29, 2006, 11:42 pm

If the outlets arent grounded, I wouldnt worry about it.

You probably have Knob and tube without grounds.

If thats the case your lucky to have homeowners insurance, most
companies wouldnt insure knob and tube, too many fires and troubles,
after all its over a 100 years old, how long do you keep a vehicle?

I would plan a complete rewire, cause its day is coming.

A friend had knob and tube, his insurance company got sold, the new
company gave him 90 days to rewire complete or no more homeowners. He
objected and found no other company would insure him either, so he
reluctantly rewired his entire home, it took most of his small savings
he was retired.

your day is coming ................... sorry for the bad news

Posted by Proctologically Violated©® on October 29, 2006, 11:52 pm

> If the outlets arent grounded, I wouldnt worry about it.

> You probably have Knob and tube without grounds.

> If thats the case your lucky to have homeowners insurance, most

> companies wouldnt insure knob and tube, too many fires and troubles,

> after all its over a 100 years old, how long do you keep a vehicle?

Well, it's not 100 y.o. yet--Actually, it's 86 y.o. :)
And no knob and tube. Actually BX cable throughout!
W/ liberal use of 3-way switches, some piping to basement/sub basement
areas, piping even for phone lines and an intercom!!
May have been a re-wire in the 1940's, but a 1st class job.

Still, the randomness of the circuits is a pain, and is the real issue.

Don't know if my insurance co would know the diff in wiring anyway--never
seemed to come up at inspection, or closing. The Home inspection was a
joke, anyway, despite being done by a top co. Useless.

BTW, I keep my vehicles 'til the tranny falls off on the highway. :)
--
Mr. P.V.'d (formerly Droll Troll), Yonkers, NY
Ever-preparing for The Grand Insertion
Party Nominee, IPPVM
Independent Party of the Proctologically Violated®© (M)asses
"That's proly not a hemorrhoid you're feeling.... "
entropic3.14decay at optonline2.718 dot net; remove pi and e to reply--ie,
all d'numbuhs

> I would plan a complete rewire, cause its day is coming.

> A friend had knob and tube, his insurance company got sold, the new

> company gave him 90 days to rewire complete or no more homeowners. He

> objected and found no other company would insure him either, so he

> reluctantly rewired his entire home, it took most of his small savings

> he was retired.

> your day is coming ................... sorry for the bad news

Posted by Pete C. on October 30, 2006, 8:32 am

> > If the outlets arent grounded, I wouldnt worry about it.

> >

> > You probably have Knob and tube without grounds.

> >

> > If thats the case your lucky to have homeowners insurance, most

> > companies wouldnt insure knob and tube, too many fires and troubles,

> > after all its over a 100 years old, how long do you keep a vehicle?

> Well, it's not 100 y.o. yet--Actually, it's 86 y.o. :)

> And no knob and tube. Actually BX cable throughout!

> W/ liberal use of 3-way switches, some piping to basement/sub basement

> areas, piping even for phone lines and an intercom!!

> May have been a re-wire in the 1940's, but a 1st class job.

> Still, the randomness of the circuits is a pain, and is the real issue.

> Don't know if my insurance co would know the diff in wiring anyway--never

> seemed to come up at inspection, or closing. The Home inspection was a

> joke, anyway, despite being done by a top co. Useless.

> BTW, I keep my vehicles 'til the tranny falls off on the highway. :)

Even beyond the knob and tube insurance issue, many companies are
charging higher premiums if your electrical is older than 30-40 years.
Update everything and notify your insurer and you may get a cut in your
premium.

Pete C.

Posted by Nick Hull on October 30, 2006, 8:48 am

wrote:

> BTW, I keep my vehicles 'til the tranny falls off on the highway. :)

I've kept them longer than that. Had the engine/transmssion fall out of
a VW bus at a stop sign; I wonderer why it didn't go until a passing
driver told me my engine was laying on the pavement. Jacked it back up
and wired it in place and drove it home and fixed it ;)

--
Free men own guns - www.geocities/CapitolHill/5357/

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