Thanks for answering the following question:
We want to rewire a 2 bedroom property(built in 1956).Can we use the old conduit? or we need to replace it?
I am happy that we can use the old conduit but still thinking how difficult will it be to pull through the new cables. or are there any thin cables available in the market.
2007-12-20 10:02:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There is no 'Special' type of cable for rewiring conduit. If there are boxes at every conduit junction and switch/lighting outlet, you can use single pvc cable for the lighting circuits, Ref 6491X 1.5²mm. This cable is thinner than the VIR that you will be replacing so you will easily get as many and more cables through the same conduit. If there are no boxes you will have to use t/e sheathed cable, in which case you will have difficulty using the conduits for more than one t/e or 3core/e cable.
Since you seem to have little idea on how to progress, I think it will take you weeks instead of days and you will get in a real mess, and eventually have to get it completed by an electrician. It takes some years to aquire the skills to carry out a rewire quickly, safely and neatly, if you hit any snags you will be stuck!
2007-12-20 19:37:50 · answer #1 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Provided that you DO have conduit, and that
it has been correctly installed, you would have
no problem. Electricians do it as a routine matter.
New thermoplastic insulated wires with high temp.
insulation thinner than that you would have had at the time, have come on the market since '56`,
(Check out 'THHN` , 'THWN`.), and codes allow
extra wire capacity for 'rewire fill`.
Do be aware that most residences of the period
would have been wired with armored cable and
not conduit. This would not allow new conductors
to be pulled into the existing jacket.
It is very unlikely that conduit would have been
used to install residential wiring.
2007-12-20 19:00:53 · answer #2 · answered by Irv S 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You better get a qualified lecky. From your question you really don't know enough to be tackling this on your own. Electrical cable is designed to carry a certain current that is suited to the circuit requirements it is supplying. The insulation is also designed to conform with British Standards, thus should have a certain thickness. You cannot install a thinner cable just to fit it into the existing conduit. Just spend the money and have a professional do the job.
2007-12-20 18:16:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The modern cables should be thinner than the old ones.
Try taping the new cables to the old ones and then pull them through the conduit
2007-12-20 18:52:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
some times you can use old conduits in the wall for switches .But only for straight runs of a maximum of two cables . You should realy be getting a qualified sparkey in though as a rewire is a major job.
2007-12-20 19:00:19 · answer #5 · answered by barney 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ya know, if those wires got in that conduit through all those turns and bends in the first place, shouldn't they come out too? I would use the proper size wire for the job, tape it to the old wire, and then pull in the new wire, using the old as a "pull string". having someone "feed in" the new wire.
2007-12-20 18:54:06 · answer #6 · answered by Phil McCracken 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Believe me...it would be easier to channel out the plaster down the walls and use new conduit...you can get the aluminium stuff that fits close to the wall then re plaster the over the channels...it's hard to feed the wires through the old conduit
2007-12-20 18:13:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
you might get one cable in, but not two or three , even if you tie the new cables to the old and pull them through the condiut, when it gets to the bends they will get stuck,so you will hve to chase the walls im afraid
2007-12-20 18:07:31 · answer #8 · answered by 5 star 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋