Posted by joe on November 1, 2007, 2:17 pm
Some of the wiring in our house is knob and tube. We run small loads on it
all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater, about
1000 watts.
Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
The circuit is hooked into the circuit-breaker panel, along with all the
other wiring.
Posted by RW Salnick on November 1, 2007, 4:17 pm
joe brought forth on stone tablets:
> Some of the wiring in our house is knob and tube. We run small loads on it
> all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater, about
> 1000 watts.
>
> Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
>
> The circuit is hooked into the circuit-breaker panel, along with all the
> other wiring.
1000 watts does not constitute a "small" load. The wires themselves
will probably be ok, but look carefully at *all* connections. Any
looseness, evidence of overheating (discoloration, burnt insulation,
etc) tells you that it is time to replace the old wiring with modern
stuff. In fact, it is time regardless.
bob
Posted by Neon John on November 1, 2007, 5:31 pm
>Some of the wiring in our house is knob and tube. We run small loads on it
>all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater, about
>1000 watts.
>Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
>The circuit is hooked into the circuit-breaker panel, along with all the
>other wiring.
If the breakers are sized for the wire size then you should have no problems at
all.
John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables!
Posted by Vaughn Simon on November 1, 2007, 6:39 pm
> Some of the wiring in our house is knob and tube. We run small loads on it
> all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater, about
> 1000 watts.
> Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
The good news: In theory, there is nothing wrong with knob & tube wiring. It
is a perfectly safe wiring method.
The bad news: Your wiring is probably at least 40 or 50 years old, and that is
where the potential problems come in. Nobody here can answer your question
because we can't see your wiring. We have no idea what the ravages of age have
done to your wiring system, or what half-assed modifications or repairs may have
been done by others over previous decades.
My daughter's house is an example, a 40's house with some knob & tube. Loose
fill Insulation has been added in the attic at some point in the last 50 years,
so the conductors are no longer in open air for cooling. The insulation on the
cables that lead to the electrical boxes is old and crumbling. We only use that
old wiring for small loads like lighting, and are replacing it as the
opportunity presents itself. In that particular home, I would never connect a
heater or other heavy load through that old wiring. YMMV.
Vaughn
Posted by Jim on November 1, 2007, 8:21 pm
>> Some of the wiring in our house is knob and tube.
OK, since I'm obviously the only one who doesn't know; what is knob and
=tube= wiring?
We run small loads on it
>> all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater,
>> about
>> 1000 watts.
>>
>> Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
> The good news: In theory, there is nothing wrong with knob & tube
> wiring. It is a perfectly safe wiring method.
> The bad news: Your wiring is probably at least 40 or 50 years old, and
> that is where the potential problems come in. Nobody here can answer your
> question because we can't see your wiring. We have no idea what the
> ravages of age have done to your wiring system, or what half-assed
> modifications or repairs may have been done by others over previous
> decades.
> My daughter's house is an example, a 40's house with some knob & tube.
> Loose fill Insulation has been added in the attic at some point in the
> last 50 years, so the conductors are no longer in open air for cooling.
> The insulation on the cables that lead to the electrical boxes is old and
> crumbling. We only use that old wiring for small loads like lighting, and
> are replacing it as the opportunity presents itself. In that particular
> home, I would never connect a heater or other heavy load through that old
> wiring. YMMV.
> Vaughn
>
XML site map
> all the time - a few lights, and I would like to run a space heater, about
> 1000 watts.
>
> Do you think there will be any problem with running something like that?
>
> The circuit is hooked into the circuit-breaker panel, along with all the
> other wiring.