Underground Wiring from House to Garage

[Wiredawg]

Just thought I would add one more thing: I own a 4wd tractor with front end loader and back hoe and used the back hoe for one waterline. I've found it quicker and cleaner to rent a tracked walk behind trencher. I like them because they ca get into tight places and are heavy enough to not beat you to death. If you have lots of rock or hard clay, a drive on is preferred. Anyway, all will work.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Sorry, I keep adding one more thing: I purchased a metal detector at Walmart I believe and it's always good to double check. we live out in the country, so always good to have one. And, if you are digging close to another utility, dig it carefully by hand... if there was ever a case of an "ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" is applicable.

Cheers, Ron

 

[mwilson]

Roughing in the temporary wiring. Rerouted the 10/2 and will feed two circuits, just enough for a few lights and outlets to get by. As cold as my fingers are I guess it’s about time to break out the Salamander heater...
Only one extension cord strung out here, so I get either lights or heat....not both...

Dog however has a kennel parked in front of one 500 watt worklight, he seems to be plenty warm......little *******...
Who is the smart one here???

 

[DavidC]

WOW, I haven't seen a disconnect like that since the Mayflower landed, screw in fuses and all.

Dave

 

[mwilson]

Damn straight!! It was free though....

 

[jhenderson]

Got a few pennies in your pocket just in case you pop a fuse?

 

[mwilson]

Got a few pennies in your pocket just in case you pop a fuse?

I’ll throw a roll of pennies on top of the box just for ‘mergency’ use..

 

[Wiredawg]

I remember the screw in fuses when I was a kid. Gas stove and HW heater, no A/C, washer, no dryer, and refrigerator. It seems like the main had like 4 fused circuits. The main was outside the house. That's pretty old school. Lots of luck with it.

I've seen the results of no-blow fuses (pennies). Heats the wire like heating element until it and/or the device on the end catches fire. Lots of buildings burned down with pennies.

I like kerosene heaters: they are inexpensive, put out pretty good heat, and don't need electricity. I'm in the South, near San Antonio TX, so we don't really have much winter. I have a couple propane area heaters, a kerosene forced air (jet engine) heater, and two kerosene radiant heaters.

Look forward to seeing more as you progress with this project.

Ron ​

 

[mwilson]

Yes, I remember houses with those screw in fuses. My wife’s parents house had only two screw in fuses, entire house was on one fuse except for one outlet which was in the living room!!!
Same as you describe, gas stove and water heater.
Scary stuff....

I’ll only use that panel for the winter, next summer it will get a proper breaker panel when I do the underground conduit.

 

[DavidC]

Install a very loud smoke detector

Dave

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

With that super slick 'lectrical box and well aged wooden siding I would've thunk you'd have found some fancy olde tyme ceramic insulators and cloth insulated wires - Knob and Tube system.

 

[Wayne M.]

With that super slick 'lectrical box and well aged wooden siding I would've thunk you'd have found some fancy olde tyme ceramic insulators and cloth insulated wires - Knob and Tube system.

View attachment 109245

Is that knob n tube? Never saw that before. What vintage is that? In my neck of the city we went from nothing, to gas pipes and gas lighting, which was around before Edison I think, to wiring through those pipes, and I guess right to BX which is code around here (it’s rat chew proof).

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Is that knob n tube? Never saw that before. What vintage is that? In my neck of the city we went from nothing, to gas pipes and gas lighting, which was around before Edison I think, to wiring through those pipes, and I guess right to BX which is code around here (it’s rat chew proof).

Circa 1880's to 1930's, some specialties even into the 1970's. Here is a link with some scary information on the K&T wiring. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob-and-tube_wiring
After reading you'll have a whole new concept of "whole house heating" as the house becomes the heat source as it burns to the ground.

Mmmmmm...Maybe, maybe not.....

Also, from personal experience, never - NEVER - EVER touch the wiring wondering "if" the wire is still being used, lest you desire a personal introduction and a handshake with our good ol' buddy Reddy Kilowatt…

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Is that knob n tube? Never saw that before. What vintage is that? In my neck of the city we went from nothing, to gas pipes and gas lighting, which was around before Edison I think, to wiring through those pipes, and I guess right to BX which is code around here (it’s rat chew proof).

You mean like this? And I thought this was for self igniting gas lights with the optional quick room heat feature!

 

[Wayne M.]

You mean like this? And I thought this was for self igniting gas lights with the optional quick room heat feature!

View attachment 109258

Yea wow! That’s crazy!
I’ve seen a couple where the piping was dismantled, and actually used as conduit going from floor to floor.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Yea wow! That’s crazy!
I’ve seen a couple where the piping was dismantled, and actually used as conduit going from floor to floor.

You would be surprised at the ingenuity of our forefathers. (Scary at times by today's standards.) Would it qualify for BX rating? Why not, resourceful, it's mousey and rat nibble proof and saves routing time using existing resources. Back in the olden days everything was used, reused, re-reused, re-re-reused until it evaporated away.

 

[EDankievitch]

Always go larger when running wires. It's way cheaper in the long run to have more capacity then not have it and really need it.

 

[mwilson]

Have a co-worker that owns a great big ark of a house in Houlton. That has some active knob and tube wiring up on the second floor. Even has quarters for the former help to the rear of the second floor.....has to be 1920 vintage or so....

 

[mwilson]

Back to this garage project today, burned the god knows how old K1 out of the salamander and got some fresh stuff flowing through it’s veins.....smells a lot better!!!! I haven’t used it for at least 10 years...

 

[mwilson]

Wiring and working on overhead doors...bought some nice used insulated 7’x9’ doors on Craigslist for the front garage. Trying to craft 2 working doors and track with Parts and pieces for 4 doors...kinda like playing with an erector set...one door will be side spring style and the other will be torsion spring..