[liljoey112]

I just moved into a older house and i have a light switch that doesn't work its not getting power while talking out some of the wall i found this little thing

here is the whole wiring

Thanks

 

[VIPlumber]

What 'little thing' are you referring to?

 

[liljoey112]

http://s1278.beta.photobucket.com/user/Joseph_Burgio/media/IMAG0313.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1 that I dont no what it is

 

[Dierte]

Thats the knob of knob and tube wiring.

 

[sublime2]

Call a pro! Now that you have exposed it,replace it with new wire.

 

[liljoey112]

Call a pro! Now that you have exposed it,replace it with new wire.

Yes but what is that ceramic looking thing

 

[joecaption]

It's an insulater.

 

[liljoey112]

what is it for/do? I am new to this

 

[sublime2]

what is it for/do? I am new to this

It's what your house wire is attached to,running through.
Look at it as a junction box before there were junction boxes.

 

[k_buz]

Call a pro! Now that you have exposed it,replace it with new wire.

There is nothing that mandates removal of knob and tube. While "replacing it with new wire" sounds easy enough, that could feed 1/2 the house.

 

[k_buz]

It's what your house wire is attached to,running through.
Look at it as a junction box before there were junction boxes.

It isn't anything like a junction box. Its like a romex staple. They wrap the wire around those and it clamps down to hold the wire tight/in place. In fact, with knob and tube, they didn't use any sort of junction box. The splices were done and buried in the wall.

 

[sublime2]

There is nothing that mandates removal of knob and tube. While "replacing it with new wire" sounds easy enough, that could feed 1/2 the house.

Never implied or stated there was a mandate.
Weather it feeds half the house or not,if it can be replaced with new wire,do so.

 

[k_buz]

He doesn't even know what it is and you want him to go ahead and replace it. Replacing knob and tube is not an easy job for professionals and it could turn into a nightmare for homeowners who don't know anything about how knob and tube as commonly run.

 

[liljoey112]

So its basically like a cap you use to cover wires when you twist them up?

 

[k_buz]

Reread post #11.

 

[liljoey112]

Ok it holds the wire to the wood I see now thanks very much.

 

[sublime2]

He doesn't even know what it is and you want him to go ahead and replace it. Replacing knob and tube is not an easy job for professionals and it could turn into a nightmare for homeowners who don't know anything about how knob and tube as commonly run.

Did I NOT say call a pro!? Never said for the home owner to replace it himself! Comprehend before you comment.

 

[k_buz]

Did I NOT say call a pro!? Never said for the home owner to replace it himself! Comprehend before you comment.

There is no need to call a pro as there is nothing that says replacement is mandatory.

Know what you are talking about before you comment.