[pitapacket]

Hey there. I have a client in an old; huge home. There's a fuse panel in the basement stairwell that's all KT. I've advised that the panel be replaced and that all circuits that are KT be replaced. The HO is dead set against this as the KT runs through the whole house (3 stories) with plaster walls and would require a great deal of deconstruction. HO is hoping that the panel alone could be replaced with CB's. I haven't come across an appropriate method to do this. I've always refused cutting and spicing KT. Any thought or advice on replacing the OCPD's and keeping within code??

 

[McClary’s Electrical]

It sounds like you are a crook. Why have you advised what you are proposing?

 

[Cletis]

10

go find some 10 amp fuses and add some new circuits here and there upstairs as a cheaper solution

 

[guest]

There is NOTHING wrong with gutting out the old fuse panel, using the can as a splice box, and protecting each KT circuit with a properly sized circuit breaker.

Why force a whole-house rewire if your Local Codes do not require it?

Doesn't make good business sense IMHO.

 

[pitapacket]

I'm proposing that the KT be replaced throughout the house. This proposal was denied by the HO. The HO still wants a CB panel installed to replace the existing fuse panel. I said I would have to do more research to see if there were an acceptable way to do this. I don't know of a way so I thought I'd put it up to the forum to see if I'm missing something. I'm not sure where you're finding fault.

 

[pitapacket]

There is NOTHING wrong with gutting out the old fuse panel, using the can as a splice box, and protecting each KT circuit with a properly sized circuit breaker.

Why force a whole-house rewire if your Local Codes do not require it?

Doesn't make good business sense IMHO.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. Good advice.:thumbup:

 

[pitapacket]

There is NOTHING wrong with gutting out the old fuse panel, using the can as a splice box, and protecting each KT circuit with a properly sized circuit breaker.

Why force a whole-house rewire if your Local Codes do not require it?

Doesn't make good business sense IMHO.

I'm not forcing anything. I like the splice box idea. I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of this. It's not something I'd come across and was just not sure how to proceed. :thumbsup:

 

[Whatevva]

Personally I'd cut back each K/T circuit into a Jbox and feed each with the appropriately sized romex. Then you can have a clean panel.

 

[pitapacket]

It sounds like you are a crook. Why have you advised what you are proposing?

Considering the condition of the KT wiring I've seen throughout the house over the years, I feel it would be a good idea to get it out of there.

 

[Whatevva]

IMHO though, K/T is better protected with proper sized fuses, than breakers.

 

[Cletis]

fuse

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102786

 

[McClary’s Electrical]

Considering the condition of the KT wiring I've seen throughout the house over the years, I feel it would be a good idea to get it out of there.

Posssibly, but I've seen PLENTY of knob and tube in perfect condition. I've seen PLENTY of fuses panel in perfect condition. Demanding, or even asking about replacement "just because" is totally WRONG and dishonest. Find ACTUAL faulty conditions in the house, if they exist, and point them out. But don't just say "this panels gotta go" or "this wires gotta go" just to make work for yourself. People won't feel comfortable recommending you to a friend if you put them in situations where you're being a pushy salesman.

 

[Cletis]

meg

Did you take any meggar readings on KnT ?

 

[guest]

Did you take any meggar readings on KnT ?

I recall someone on here (or maybe MH) posting that meg readings on KT are almost worthless....as the spacing the wire was originally installed with provides enough isolation between hot and neutral that even if the wires were completely bare they would still meg out as "good."

 

[pitapacket]

I got the answer I needed. Cletis; I'm a huge fan of your website.

 

[BurtiElectric]

You can protect each circuit with a GFCI breaker. When you replace a two wire recep the code says either replace it with a gfi or a two wire recep. IMO GFI protection would be code compliant in this situation

 

[Cletis]

Thanks

I appreciate that. I spent alot of hours on web development and marketing.

 

[I_get_shocked]

You can protect each circuit with a GFCI breaker. When you replace a two wire recep the code says either replace it with a gfi or a two wire recep. IMO GFI protection would be code compliant in this situation

That sounds very expensive and unnecessary. There was no mention of receptacle replacement.

 

[BurtiElectric]

That sounds very expensive and unnecessary. There was no mention of receptacle replacement.

Its about protecting the conductors
Its not more expensive then rewiring the house:whistling2:

 

[stuiec]

IMHO though, K/T is better protected with proper sized fuses, than breakers.

Why is this?