On 8 Dec 2006 01:22:04 -0800, "redbrickhat"
wrote:

I live in an old building (1920s) in New York City.


I recently opened up 2 electrical outlets that had been covered up for
at least 30 years. Behind the outlets were 2 wires covered in cloth
braid. At first I thought this type of cabling might be K&T, but a
voltage test showed that the box was grounded, so I guess the wiring is
metal conduit or armored cable.


What is the composition of the cloth braid of these old cables? The
cloth braid looked and felt like cotton, but could it have been
asbestos or another substance?


The only time I ran into insulation that you describe, it was very
brittle. If you plain to continue using it, you should not disturb it
anymore than you have to.