Comments on: Questions about wiring in my house. http://design4kitchen.com/2009/12/25/questions-about-wiring-in-my-house/ New design ideas for your kitchen Tue, 22 May 2012 01:39:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: paul s http://design4kitchen.com/2009/12/25/questions-about-wiring-in-my-house/#comment-2907 paul s Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20091223075706AASP2nQ#comment-2907 a fuse box is extremely out dated and you should have, by an electrical contractor, rewire your whole house and the cost of that project is inexpensive too burning up your family with an electrical fire a fuse box is extremely out dated and you should have, by an electrical contractor, rewire your whole house and the cost of that project is inexpensive too burning up your family with an electrical fire

]]> By: #1 packer fan http://design4kitchen.com/2009/12/25/questions-about-wiring-in-my-house/#comment-2908 #1 packer fan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20091223075706AASP2nQ#comment-2908 Believe it or not a fuse is old but is more reliable and faster tripping than a lot of circuit breakers out there. There are a few things that come in to play when rewiring a house, the size of wire already in the house, the panel size and whether or not you trust your wiring skills not to burn down your house. Remember when your house was probably wired there were no microwaves, plasma tvs,computers and all the other high draw devices. Right now you probably have a 60 amp main, which probably can handle your house load but the problem with old panels is the amount of circuits most newer houses you want a 42 space and in most parts of the country if you want to replace the panel you need a qualified electrician to do it. If they update a service they are supposed to update certain parts of your house also, two 20 amp kitchen counter circuits GFCI, gfci 20 amp circuit bathroom and so on, probably new wire if the wire in your house is to old. Your microwave blows the fuse because you probably have computer and monitor already on that circuit and the microwave draws just enough to blow the fuse. You cant just put a bigger fuse in if the wire is not the right size for the fuse or breaker size 12 gauge 20 amp, 14 gauge 15 amp, you could do it a yes it will work but as the load gets bigger the wire heats up, and more than likely its old wire, and that’s how electrical fires happen. The only other option you have is to shut of the main supply coming into the house see how many wires land under that one fuse if there is more than one you can split them up and put them on separate fuses if you have the room in your panel. Otherwise if you are not a electrician please call one and have them do it. Most service changes are around $1000 around here and you will need to get a quote for the rest of the updates needed in your house. Believe it or not a fuse is old but is more reliable and faster tripping than a lot of circuit breakers out there. There are a few things that come in to play when rewiring a house, the size of wire already in the house, the panel size and whether or not you trust your wiring skills not to burn down your house. Remember when your house was probably wired there were no microwaves, plasma tvs,computers and all the other high draw devices. Right now you probably have a 60 amp main, which probably can handle your house load but the problem with old panels is the amount of circuits most newer houses you want a 42 space and in most parts of the country if you want to replace the panel you need a qualified electrician to do it. If they update a service they are supposed to update certain parts of your house also, two 20 amp kitchen counter circuits GFCI, gfci 20 amp circuit bathroom and so on, probably new wire if the wire in your house is to old. Your microwave blows the fuse because you probably have computer and monitor already on that circuit and the microwave draws just enough to blow the fuse. You cant just put a bigger fuse in if the wire is not the right size for the fuse or breaker size 12 gauge 20 amp, 14 gauge 15 amp, you could do it a yes it will work but as the load gets bigger the wire heats up, and more than likely its old wire, and that’s how electrical fires happen. The only other option you have is to shut of the main supply coming into the house see how many wires land under that one fuse if there is more than one you can split them up and put them on separate fuses if you have the room in your panel. Otherwise if you are not a electrician please call one and have them do it. Most service changes are around $1000 around here and you will need to get a quote for the rest of the updates needed in your house.

]]> By: EagleWatcher http://design4kitchen.com/2009/12/25/questions-about-wiring-in-my-house/#comment-2909 EagleWatcher Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20091223075706AASP2nQ#comment-2909 Not to insult you, just one of our little jokes: What is fried, crispy and hangs from the ceiling. Homeowner. Black to black White to white. Green to ground. It’s all very simple, until. BUT it’s how you run the wires and which wires to run and the method of running the wires that’s the question. How do you hook them up. Is the white always the neutral. (no) After you did your own electrical work and the house burns down, how are you going to feel. With the questions that you’re asking, leads me to believe that you ain’t got a clue. The most cost effective way is to do it yourself. Just make sure your homeowners insurance is up to par.Oh, by the way, some of them will not cover electrical or plumbing work done by the homeowner without a permit. FYI. The safest way would be to have a pro look over your situation. It’s well worth the price of a consolation fee. Usually around $90.00 Good luck in all you do and Merry christmas Not to insult you, just one of our little jokes:

What is fried, crispy and hangs from the ceiling.
Homeowner.

Black to black
White to white.
Green to ground.

It’s all very simple, until.
BUT it’s how you run the wires and which wires to run and the method of running the wires that’s the question. How do you hook them up. Is the white always the neutral. (no) After you did your own electrical work and the house burns down, how are you going to feel. With the questions that you’re asking, leads me to believe that you ain’t got a clue. The most cost effective way is to do it yourself. Just make sure your homeowners insurance is up to par.Oh, by the way, some of them will not cover electrical or plumbing work done by the homeowner without a permit. FYI. The safest way would be to have a pro look over your situation. It’s well worth the price of a consolation fee. Usually around $90.00
Good luck in all you do and Merry christmas

]]> By: thewrangler_sw http://design4kitchen.com/2009/12/25/questions-about-wiring-in-my-house/#comment-2910 thewrangler_sw Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20091223075706AASP2nQ#comment-2910 Judging by the way you’ve worded your question, I would have to suggest that you let a licensed electrician do the work. Yes, you should expect it to be expensive - any kind of remodeling is expensive these days. But its infinitely preferable to a house fire, loss of belongings, and possibly even loss of life. Yes, that’s how serious this is. There are a LOT of variables to consider, before starting any kind of electrical remodeling. If your house wiring is old enough to actually still be using ‘fuses’ as opposed to circuit breakers - there’s a very good chance you still have cloth wrapped wiring in place - and this is VERY dangerous, especially when overloading the circuits. The wires get hot, and can easily start a fire. You’ll most likely need to pull permits, and have the work signed off by a licensed electrician, even if you do the work yourself. Any outlets near a water source (within 6 feet, I believe) must be GFCI protected. Bedroom outlets, in some states, must now have AFCI protection too. Certain appliances, like the refrigerator, a built in microwave, dishwasher, etc - must be on their own 20 amp dedicated circuit. (That means one circuit for the refrigerator, another for the dishwasher, another for the microwave, and so on). Many tv’s these days now require 20 amp service, so keep that in mind when running electrical to those rooms. I like to run dedicated circuits for all of my electrical entertainment to help cut down on interference, and to protect the units. So my computer is on one circuit, the tv on another, etc., with nothing else on those circuits. If you need to upgrade the ‘fuse box’, or circuit box, then you may also be required to update the meter base and mast (masts are used when the wires hang overhead, when coming to your house). As you can see - there is a lot to consider. At the very least - I would recommend that you get some licensed electricians in to look at your home’s electrical, and give you some advice, and estimates. They can tell you what you ‘must’ do, to meet your local codes. Good Luck Judging by the way you’ve worded your question, I would have to suggest that you let a licensed electrician do the work. Yes, you should expect it to be expensive - any kind of remodeling is expensive these days. But its infinitely preferable to a house fire, loss of belongings, and possibly even loss of life.
Yes, that’s how serious this is.

There are a LOT of variables to consider, before starting any kind of electrical remodeling.

If your house wiring is old enough to actually still be using ‘fuses’ as opposed to circuit breakers - there’s a very good chance you still have cloth wrapped wiring in place - and this is VERY dangerous, especially when overloading the circuits. The wires get hot, and can easily start a fire.

You’ll most likely need to pull permits, and have the work signed off by a licensed electrician, even if you do the work yourself.

Any outlets near a water source (within 6 feet, I believe) must be GFCI protected.
Bedroom outlets, in some states, must now have AFCI protection too.
Certain appliances, like the refrigerator, a built in microwave, dishwasher, etc - must be on their own 20 amp dedicated circuit. (That means one circuit for the refrigerator, another for the dishwasher, another for the microwave, and so on).
Many tv’s these days now require 20 amp service, so keep that in mind when running electrical to those rooms. I like to run dedicated circuits for all of my electrical entertainment to help cut down on interference, and to protect the units. So my computer is on one circuit, the tv on another, etc., with nothing else on those circuits.
If you need to upgrade the ‘fuse box’, or circuit box, then you may also be required to update the meter base and mast (masts are used when the wires hang overhead, when coming to your house).

As you can see - there is a lot to consider.

At the very least - I would recommend that you get some licensed electricians in to look at your home’s electrical, and give you some advice, and estimates. They can tell you what you ‘must’ do, to meet your local codes.

Good Luck

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