Should light fixture wiring be replaced or reused - Residential Renovation

[designer82]

I have a 4 unit apartment building including a separate community building I am working on. The scope is to remove the old lighting fixtures (fluorescent, incandescent) and install new modern LED fixtures.

I am wondering if the electrician can re-use the existing wiring or if they would have to remove and run new wiring?


Thanks

 

[winnie]

Unfortunately the devil is in the details, in particular how old is the existing wiring.

There is no explicit rule against reusing the existing wiring, and modern LEDs will likely use less current than the existing lighting.

However modern fixtures often specify 90C rated wire, and often older wire is rated 60C. Older still is wire with undersized ground wires (which is probably acceptable). Older wire often has brittle insulation that crumbles when the wire is moved around.

Any of the above might force rewiring, or make reusing the existing wiring so expensive that paying just a bit more to rewire is worth it.

Jon

 

[designer82]

Thanks. I have a follow up... They're going to (possibly) replace an existing 1x1 drop ceiling with a 2x2 drop ceiling in a certain area. The electrical devices (such as emergency lights and fire alarm appliances) must remain.

Would the electrician disconnect these fixtures, place them aside and simply reconnect when the new ceiling is up. Is there anything else that should be added to the notes for this task?

 

[LarryFine]

Would the electrician disconnect these fixtures, place them aside and simply reconnect when the new ceiling is up.

That should cover it. He'll know what to do.