Old Romex Wiring Diagram

Today s standard household wiring is a plastic sheathed insulated three wire cable universally known by the trade name romex.

Old romex wiring diagram. Orange 10 gauge wire 30 amp circuit. White 14 gauge wire 15 amp circuit. The ceramic insulators keep the wires from touching each other and from touching the wood and other. Electrical systems containing functioning knob and tube wiring are in critical need of an upgrade.

Seems like the late 60 s is when the reduced grounds made a noticable showing. For most people it refers to nm b non metalic cable in the 12 2 or 14 2 size used to wire most home needs. While varying somewhat by area of the country in the u s latin america europe and other areas there are recognizable generations of electrical wiring knob tube greenfield armored cable or bx wiring plastic or nm. The color of a cable s outer sheath tells you the gauge of the wire inside the sheath as well as the amperage rating for the circuit.

The oldest type of wiring system found in homes is called knob and tube named for the insulating knobs and tubes are used to run the wiring along and through the house framing knob and tube wiring was run as individual wires one black hot wire and one white neutral wire throughout the home. Black 8 or 6 gauge wire 45 or 60 amp circuits. Yellow 12 gauge wire 20 amp circuit. Some of that old wire hung around well into the 60 s.

I am just going to cover a few basics for choosing the proper romex cable for use on circuits that i discuss on this website. House wiring cable known as romex cable comes in a variety of sizes and combination s. If this is your first visit be sure to check out the faq. I have also seen the cloth stuff in 60 s houses.

You must register before you can view photos and images. Check sheath labeling for gauge and. Old romex wire with ground. I have seen plastic instead of cloth jackets with no ground on homes built in the 60 s around here.

But just because you see knob and tubes in some wall or floor cavities doesn t necessarily mean you are in danger. But the vintage copper wiring in many older houses works just as well as the new stuff as long as it s in good condition and hasn t been altered in a way that violates code. Check the manufacturers website for the installation instructions. Results 1 to 6 of 6 thread.

Romex is a brand name like kleenex. It was common practice to simply leave old wiring in place when a home was rewired. Old electrical wiring types photo guide to types of electrical wiring in older buildings. To start viewing messages select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.