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Rewiring 1950s house - Removing & Installing Wiring

4.1K views 39 replies 11 participants last post by  hornetd  
#1 ·
The house has cloth-covered 14-gauge w/ ground. The receptacle boxes are grounded. Was it common practice to use wire staples to attach wires to studs? Or… let the wires hang in a stud cavity? Thanks.
 
#10 ·
Will the cloth covering eventually deteriorate and create a fire hazard and/or a safety hazard? Also - is the insulation on the black and white wires likely to crack from age - especially where they are bent/looped in a steel box for a receptacle or switch?

Asking because I want to remove the original 2-blade ungrounded receptacles and replace them with grounded receptacles. Is it possible that the act of removing the old receptacle from the box, disconnecting the wires from the receptacle, connecting the wires to the new receptacle and then pushing the old wires into the box will crack the insulation? The wires are 67-years-old.

Are smaller grounded receptacles made to fit inside the 67-year-old boxes?

Thanks.
 
#11 ·
It shouldn't be a problem. The cloth is just there mainly to hold things together. Inside there's thermoplastic insulation around each of the current carrying wires. The only issue that occurs with these typically, is that some of the early stuff used a smaller (16awg) ground which is no longer code compliant for new installations.
 
#13 ·
My house was wired in 1958 with ground wires and I have no issues with cracking insulation etc. The only problem I occasionally run into is finding the ground wire as it was new for the time they used nuts and bolts to fasten them to the back of the box often.
 
#28 ·
Thanks for the info about the thermoplastic insulation. One of the branch circuits no longer is needed because I don't use the deep well pump. I'll disconnect the circuit and remove a section of the cable. I'll bend and twist the black and white wires to learn if the insulation will crack.
 
#24 ·
I just replaced all the clothed romex from 1941.

Mine had two conductors with rubber insulation on each, then a cloth wrap over each conductor, then another cloth over both conductors and this overall cloth is coated with some tar like substance.

If I touch them the insulation and cloth just crumble into dust.

I had a thread here on this forum about this. Took a while to replace them all, and they were stapled with big meaty staples!
 
#32 ·
If the actual insulation on the conductors is PVC/TPS it is probably OK to leave them as-is.

However, if the insulation is "rubber" replace ASAP !!!!
Thanks for the info about the thermoplastic insulation. One of the branch circuits no longer is needed because I don't use the deep well pump. I'll disconnect the circuit and remove a section of the cable. I'll bend and twist the black and white wires to learn if the insulation will crack.
 
#34 ·
Here in Western Kentucky from the late 50's to the early 60's we have cloth and plastic jackets 2 and 3wire with a reduced ground size. All are ok if in good not falling apart condition. Most damage happens in attic from physical abuse and in various j-boxes due to overloading circuit.

No, I have not seen too many staples in wall cavities.