knob and tube

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tallgirl said:
Cool. I've seen houses that I know were wired with K&T, but I've never seen the walls off of one.

Out of curiousity, what's the outside diameter on the tubes? I assume the studs are 2" by 4" (not to be confused with 2x4's), and by eyeball those are pretty fat wires. If I whack the tubes with a hammer, will they shatter and then I could run 12/2 or 12/3 Romex through the nice little holes?
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I would just pull the tube out (aprox 1/2 inch) and use the hole.If no insulation in the walls rewiring is not that hard.Use as many junction boxes as you need to keep wire pulling to a min..Back switching might help.Each house is differant so just gotta check them out to see what will work.
 
The tubes do not require smashing to remove them; they have a ridge on only one end.

I've heard they make great knife sharpeners.
 
K&T was a very safe wiring method, until insulation is added to the wall cavity. The single conductor would radiate the heat well. However, it would be very rare to find a K&T installation that has been added on that is safe, esp if done by the homeowner.
I would suggest rewiring any accessible areas with NM-B, new home runs to the electrical panel. AFCI as necessary. Don't forget your smoke detector outlets, one in each room and common area, tied together.
 
I have just returned from several days at the house I first posted about.
This is the last time I let my wife look at the closet without taking a peek myself.
For your viewing pleasure..........







He must have ran out of red wire about a foot from where he wanted the light. He spliced a piece of blue onto the green and a piece of green onto the red.
The hole in the wall for the feed is back of a duplex recpt in the bedroom. At least he didn't tighten the clamps too tight on the wires, oh thats right he took the clamps out.
Needless to say we don't have a light in that closet anymore.
Actually it looks as if a competent EC did the rest of the wiring I looked at.
 
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