Electrical Work AND a Free Education

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In the middle of everything else I decided it would be a good time to upgrade a couple of electrical outlets and replace the OLD (I’ve lived here for 36 years, and it was in the house when I bought it) fluorescent light fixture in the kitchen. My next-door neighbor retired from a “mom and pop” electrical company, so I always use them for my work. While the man was replacing the light fixture I asked him if my electrical wiring was safe. He replied that, while old, it was safe. He said that it was nothing like knob and tube wiring. Now, you know us southerners. I thought he’d said “nobbin tube,” so I looked it up. Apparently Google has a southern translation feature, because “knob and tube” came up. This was the “early days” electrical wiring. Never anticipating things like computers and smart homes, the wires were totally exposed outside of the wall. They were insulated with ceramic tubes. They were also just hooked up to electrical items with no concern about how much electricity was being put in one area. I guess a modern way to think of it would be an extension cord with extension cords hooked up to it and extension cords hooked up to all of those cords, etc. Guess what: they weren’t safe. In fact, I commented that it sounded like “the asbestos of electrical work,” and the electrician readily agreed. He said that insurance companies will NOT insure a home with knob and tube wiring in it. He also said that replacing it in an old home (late 19th/early 20th century old) could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m glad I had a few things updated, and I have the reassurance that my wiring is safe. I also appreciate the free education I got with the electrical work! A very simple and brief explanation: