Knob & Tube

Back in the day, electricity used to run through homes through knob & tube wiring. These wires were wound around ceramic knobs and threaded through ceramic tubes. Positive and negative leads would run different tracks throughout the house and find themselves joined around outlets, switches, and light fixtures. This was done to limit exposure of positive and negative terminals from shorting out, and to air cool the wires.

 

Unfortunately, this means there is no ground terminal. A lot of electronics nowadays depend on ground to prevent DC spikes from destroying the expensive equipment, eliminating static build-up, and provide a common point of reference between connected components. Surge protectors do not work unless a ground wire is present so nearby lightning strikes, or irregularities in the power grid may fry electronics that would have otherwise could have been prevented by the presence of a ground wire.

Also, you cannot put in modern insulation into the house in the attic or the walls because the these wires need air to keep cool. (There have been some exceptions in the U.S. given the recommendation of a certified electrician.)

The insulation on these wires typically have not withstood the test of time. If time doesn't corrode them, critters may. Some insurance companies have refused to insure homes with knob and tube because the corroded wiring can lead to fires.

Fortunately, my wiring seems to be in some good shape. However, previous owners have tapped straight into the circuit rather than replacing it when updating some rooms/lighting.

So I called some electrician that I found on Yelp what it would cost to replace the electrical wiring in the Money Pit. He quoted me something between $10,000 to $20,000. Yeesh!!

I think it's time to put some of that electronics knowledge into good use and perhaps do this myself, or learn enough to cut down costs drastically.

Reading through the web, I've decided to start by reading Your Old Wiring by David E. Shapiro:

From the back cover:

If you live in an older home, you never know what lurks behind switchplates and outlet covers, inside fuse boxes and breaker panels, writes master electrician David Shapiro. He's conquered the tangles masquerading as wiring in hundreds of old buildings, and in this book he shows you not just what should be in your electrical system, as other books do, but also what really may be there--and how to deal with it. YOUR OLD WIRING is the only guidebook available with this important feature.

I hope it's a good book.