New 200A panel with very old wiring
#1
11-11-17, 11:24 PM
New 200A panel with very old wiring
Trying to live in my Ohio house AND rewire at the same time.
The current 100A panel has all breakers in use. Almost all of the house wiring is knob and tube, very few 3-prong outlets and where there are 3-prong outlets they are grounded by clamps on water pipes.
I want to add more circuits to code (new panel) and bring old circuits up to code by disconnecting only one circuit at a time. I don't want the whole house dark and then slowly restore power one circuit at a time.
Does anyone get a 200A panel installed, but still manage to keep the old wiring to change out a bit at a time? Maybe the old 100A panel stays powered with the old wiring as I remove from it one circuit at a time to connect to new panel? I don't think a building inspector will let me hook up the old knob and tube to GFI outlets and water pipe grounded outlets to a new panel.
What are the options for a DIY home rewire where more circuits are required, and the current panel is full, while continuing to live in the house?
thanks
The current 100A panel has all breakers in use. Almost all of the house wiring is knob and tube, very few 3-prong outlets and where there are 3-prong outlets they are grounded by clamps on water pipes.
I want to add more circuits to code (new panel) and bring old circuits up to code by disconnecting only one circuit at a time. I don't want the whole house dark and then slowly restore power one circuit at a time.
Does anyone get a 200A panel installed, but still manage to keep the old wiring to change out a bit at a time? Maybe the old 100A panel stays powered with the old wiring as I remove from it one circuit at a time to connect to new panel? I don't think a building inspector will let me hook up the old knob and tube to GFI outlets and water pipe grounded outlets to a new panel.
What are the options for a DIY home rewire where more circuits are required, and the current panel is full, while continuing to live in the house?
thanks
#2
11-12-17, 04:29 AM
Member
Hi, if you have space next to the existing panel you maybe able to install the new service next to it and back feed the existing to keep it live while you rewire.
Geo
Geo
#3
11-12-17, 07:05 AM
A standard service/panel upgrade would be to replace the old panel with one that has more spaces. As long as there is room it is done in place and the rest of the house wiring is left as is. You then can do the knob-and-tube upgrades on your own schedule.
#4
11-12-17, 11:10 AM
That would be perfect. I was afraid electrician or inspector would require all old circuits to meet current code before connecting. This way sounds much more reasonable.
#5
11-12-17, 11:16 AM
Member
Does anyone get a 200A panel installed, but still manage to keep the old wiring to change out a bit at a time?
Why 200 amp? Are you planning on adding some substantial new loads such as electric heat or electric water heater? There is a very good possibility you need no more than a 30 circuit 100 amp panel. I know Eaton/Cutler-Hammer has a nice one with copper bus and their value pack breakers for around $90-$95. I believe the same package with aluminum bus is around $88 or so.
#6
11-12-17, 11:41 AM
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