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GFCI added to Knob & Tube to protect circuits?

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GFCI added to Knob & Tube to protect circuits? ian.johns 08-10-2006
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Posted by on August 10, 2006, 5:52 pm
I have an electrician coming tomorrow to look at my newly aquired old
house which has some knob & tube in it that I have to update for
insurance purposes. The home inspector showed me how it's only the old
lighting that now uses the knob & tube, all other electrical has been
updated.

The electrician said on the phone that it's possible that he can just
add GFCIs to each knob & tube circuit to satisfy the insurance people.
This will avoid having to rip plaster walls apart.

Is this an accepted way to resolve the knob & tube issue?


Posted by Joseph Meehan on August 10, 2006, 6:18 pm
ian.johns@gmail.com wrote:
> I have an electrician coming tomorrow to look at my newly aquired old
> house which has some knob & tube in it that I have to update for
> insurance purposes. The home inspector showed me how it's only the
> old lighting that now uses the knob & tube, all other electrical has
> been updated.
>
> The electrician said on the phone that it's possible that he can just
> add GFCIs to each knob & tube circuit to satisfy the insurance people.
> This will avoid having to rip plaster walls apart.
>
> Is this an accepted way to resolve the knob & tube issue?

You may need to contact the local code enforcement or insurance people
to determine what they want. Just adding GFCI will not change many of the
issues some areas and regulations have with K&T.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit



Posted by John Gilmer on August 12, 2006, 12:22 am


>
> You may need to contact the local code enforcement or insurance people
> to determine what they want. Just adding GFCI will not change many of the
> issues some areas and regulations have with K&T.

Actually, K&T wiring is pretty good stuff!

It's reasonably safe even AFTER the mice have eaten the insulation as the
"real" insulation is provided by the knobs and tubes.

A GFCI on a K&T circuit would protect the circuit from any significant
leakage to ground. The basic nature of K&T is that "shorts" between the
two conductors are very unlikely but anything from a nail going to far into
the wall to a broken insulator might cause contract between a conductor and
some other metal object.

Obviously, you have to do whatever the local authorities and the insurance
company demand but when it comes to REAL safety, a GFCI will do the job.
Just don't forget to TEST the GFCI once a month or so.

If your GFCI doesn't reset, you may have to tear up the walls anyway but the
most likely place for problems is at switches, fixtures, and where you
transition from "modern" wiring to the K&T.



Posted by RBM on August 10, 2006, 6:18 pm
GFCI's are people protectors, not circuit protectors


>I have an electrician coming tomorrow to look at my newly aquired old
> house which has some knob & tube in it that I have to update for
> insurance purposes. The home inspector showed me how it's only the old
> lighting that now uses the knob & tube, all other electrical has been
> updated.
>
> The electrician said on the phone that it's possible that he can just
> add GFCIs to each knob & tube circuit to satisfy the insurance people.
> This will avoid having to rip plaster walls apart.
>
> Is this an accepted way to resolve the knob & tube issue?
>



Posted by on August 10, 2006, 8:15 pm
I was thinking the same thing.......
Why would GFIs do much of anything on lights?

K&T was always a durable means of wiring, and lights really do not
need a ground, whereas outlets do. If the K&T is in good condition, I
dont see where it needs anything. Lights dont draw any heavy loads.

But inspectors and insurance people generally dont make much sense
anyhow.... I'd still like to find even one of them that actually
knows how to use a screwdriver.......

-----------


On Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:18:37 -0400, "RBM" <rbm2(remove
this)@optonline.net> wrote:

>GFCI's are people protectors, not circuit protectors
>
>
>>I have an electrician coming tomorrow to look at my newly aquired old
>> house which has some knob & tube in it that I have to update for
>> insurance purposes. The home inspector showed me how it's only the old
>> lighting that now uses the knob & tube, all other electrical has been
>> updated.
>>
>> The electrician said on the phone that it's possible that he can just
>> add GFCIs to each knob & tube circuit to satisfy the insurance people.
>> This will avoid having to rip plaster walls apart.
>>
>> Is this an accepted way to resolve the knob & tube issue?
>>
>


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