12 Jul
2005
12 Jul
'05
4:33 p.m.
On 7/12/05, Kevin Handy <kth at srv.net> wrote:
I wrote:
That's like knob and tube. For those not so blessed, the nail-in
insulators are the knobs, and the tubes are long ceramic tubes used as
bushings through wood structural elements and metal ducting (yes, the
wires go _through_ the ducting, not around). Part of the standard
installation practice was to run the hot and neutral on opposite sides
of the same joist where possible, but I have seen two parallel wires
through the same knob, especially before corners, etc.
Have to admit, though, that except for basements and attics, I've
always seen that kind of wiring _inside_ the walls (or threaded
through former gas-light pipes). I've never seen a ground wire with
knob and tube. AFAIK, that didn't even come into fashion when they
switched to asphalt-impregnated cloth-covered Romex (1940s?). I think
ground wires became standard in my area post 1960, with the advent of
plastic-covered Romex.
While I have no Al wiring in my 90-year-old house,
I do have
knob-and-tube
Many years ago (30+), my grandmothers house was wired by running
cloth covered wires on insulators (like you see used for electric fences)
inside the house. (not inside the walls) One wire on each side of the
insulator. (No 3rd ground wire either) Want to try hooking up a mainframe using that type of
wiring?
Um... no! At least you'd be able to see the insulation failing as it
smoked. ;-)
-ethan