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Old Wire
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Posted by
ldb_wayne (
My Page) on
Thu, Dec 17, 09 at 22:00
| I am going to be renovating the kitchen in my home that was built in 1959. Last year I had the main service box replaced and now I have plenty of room for new circuits that I now need. My question is: Can I keep some of the existing runs of the older grey cloth covered NM wire. It is in good condition and is the type with individualy plastic insulated and rubber covered copper wire with a ground. The runs to the refrigerator are 12 gauge and the lights are 14. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Old Wire
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| I guess I'm somewhat confused by "can I". There is certainly no law stating that you have to replace it. 12AWG is good for 20A circuits, 14AWG for 15A circuits. If it's truly in good condition and includes a ground conductor, I see no need to replace it. |
RE: Old Wire
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| There is no reason to change those cables. The only reason to replace cables is to get a ground or the cables are damaged. Your's has a ground. Are they damaged? The wire guage has not changed. The old cables can carry the same current as the new ones. |
RE: Old Wire
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| If the old wire is undamaged then there is no need to replace it unless you want to move the wire to a different place such as through the wall studs instead of stapled to the bottom of the floor joists. |
RE: Old Wire
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| The only problem you might have that I can think of is if the old wiring is rated for 70 deg C temp and you want to install light fixtures that require 90 deg C wiring. Even then, there are ways round that problem. |
RE: Old Wire
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| The problem of the temperature rating of the wire is discussed in this thread: |
Here is a link that might be useful: Minimum 90°C Supply Conductors
RE: Old Wire
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| From 1959, the equipment grounding conductor probably is 16 gauge. A bit fragile while wrestling the other conductors into the box along with a device. But I know of no other compelling reason to replace that cable. |
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