Fuse Box Location and New Wiring
 

I recently bought a 100 year old home with what looks like 1950's-60's wiring. (cloth covered)
The fuse box was installed in the basement onto a ceiling joist about 9 feet off the ground and about 15 feet away from where the utility comes into the basement. (logs were actually used for the joists-it's amazing!)

Anyway...I have 60amp service to the entire home and wanted to do some updating myself if I could.

Q:
Is there anything in (Pa.) electrical code for required location of a fuse box? (Does it need to be mounted onto a wall?) and does a licensed electrician have to do this?

and also...can I use NM cable in the basement to replace all of the cloth covered wiring? All that I want to basically do is replace the old switched light fixtures with pull chain ones and add two or three new outlets upstairs.

Thanks in advance!

uh maybe you should start with a basic wiring book. but a panel upgrade is a pro thing.

Check with you local authority regarding electrical work which is allowed/forbidden by homeowners.

What they said regarding local code. Some localities allow homeowners broad leeway as a DIY. Of course, you still need inspections and a permit.

New NM is fine to replace older fabric cable. But if there is knob/tube, that usually must be deactivated. You cannot add to K/T wiring. Basic min. anymore is 150A, with 200A better if you have a lot of high power electrical appliances.

EXTREME CAUTION on working with service panels. Nothing is fused from the pole to the main breaker, and the usual POCO feed is 400A+. Can you spell fried???