weird things I find in my basement

neo565

Hi, I just recently went down into my basement and found weird electrical,plumbing,and structural things. Anyone know what they are?

Fairview

OH MY GOSH, just wait until the code and permit folks find out about this.

The third picture looks to be a couple of screw in fuses. If it weren't for those my shop would be out of business.

neo565

neo565

neo565

MT Stringer

Looks like you found a camera that won't focus! :-)

oh'mike

You have a pre 1950 house with many different wiring types----using obsolete electrical boxes that don't accept the modern connectors---

I also suspect you have a hydronic heating system---with typical fill /back flow/pressure regulators of that era.

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bbo

I was just going to ask if they could get some closer, more out of focus pics.

I see what looks to be a bunch of hot water heat items, but cant really tell. there may also be some old phone wiring mixed in there.

neo565

Sorry about the pics. They were taken with a $30 camera from Ocean State Job Lot. Couldn't find my Nikon. The camera doesn't even have a zoom.

oh'mike

In an old place like that --you need to rewire entire circuits----it looks like 60 years of 'This will work until I can fix it right' kind of effort---and the 'fix it right' just never happened.

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ThatDaveGuy

After you get beyond that "WTF is this??" stage, you'll find that it ends up being cheaper, easier and less taxing on the brain to start isolating and replacing individual circuits, replacing old ungrounded outlets, properly running wires in a clean, logical fashion, etc., and adding outlets where you need 'em now as opposed to the "one light and a radio" needs of 1951. I know I have........

joecaption

Before any rewiring I would have suggested seeing what you have for the main incoming power line and main panel.
If it's still an old 60 amp fuse panel the incoming line and panel need to be changed.
What's the since in running new wires to an outdated panel?
Just trying to look at it from a logical stand point.

What was the picture of the cross bracing all about?

Maintenance 6

Some of them aren't particularly weird. As close as some of the pictures are taken it's hard to decide what is in need of replacement and what is pretty normal. Lots of houses have fused disconnects and they are fine if not overfused. The bridging in the picture looks typical. The boiler water feed and what I take to be a mixing valve are pretty normal. I'd suggest if you are looking for somebody to help you identify some of these things, then post pictures from a little farther away and assign them a number. Most are not weird to the informed person.

MT Stringer

About those pics. I see two problems that you can probably easily remedy.

Blurry images - I checked the exif data and several of the pics were taken at 1/7 sec shutter speed. Way to slow to hand hold and get a sharp image.

No flash used - I would suggest to use the flash if the camera has one...or go find your Noink.

The flash will help alot and by taking time to compose your shots, it will make it easier for the experts to see what you are dealing with.
Hope this helps.
Mike

neo565

The service conductors are 0/0 awg. The service is 100 amps with an ancient 2-phase service which once fed an old slate panel (weighed 4 tons and took up a whole wall). All new except the old wiring and the disconnect. I will probably re-wire the disconnect because it is only 15 amps and there is practically no way to overfuse it since the feeder breaker is 15 amps. The equipment on that circuit MUST have a fast acting fuse, according to the labels. Also, the local hardware store still stocks boxes of the brown CLEARSITE brand fuses. Also, is it fine to have an 8 amp fuse on a 12 ga. wire?(that yellow glass one)