On Feb 26, 6:08 am, "RBM" wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message

...



Which would you rather see in a basement for wiring? Old BX or new Romex?
I'm really not sure which should be preferable. BX has cloth covered
insulators and just the little strip for ground, but it is working well
(was working on a switch hot and accidentally touched the box, the lights
were off almost simultaneously with the spark - woops. Just for the record
I was wearing my work boots and was careful not to let my hands touch
anything metal; I just didn't realize that the switch I was using was
almost as wide as a single gang box...) cloth covered insulation appears
to be in good shape. I like the damage resistance of the BX, but I also
like the higher temperature rating of the new NM-B.

I'm certain that the old cloth had a 60C temperature rating if any; new
NM-B has 90C. Does it really make a big difference? I know the right
answer to the question is "use new BX with 90C insulation and a separate
ground wire" but... um... you priced BX lately? I am definitely replacing
a few runs with romex to allow for a 3-way switch on the stairwell light
and will be replacing a couple lampholders with shop lights (cheap 'n'
sleazy, just using short fixture whips out of the blank plate of the
octagon box, there's no ceiling in the laundry room and won't be until
*ALL* the wiring is done)

Also, in situations where someone's already been there and pulled
somewhat-newer Romex, do you generally consider it acceptable to
"repurpose" it if it runs where I need it? This is all the old NM not
NM-B, and for extra goodness some of it has a 16AWG ground. Is this a big
deal? Repulling it is not the end of the world, just a minor PITA. I know
it's not the best it could be, but ISTM that it should be acceptable...

Oddly enough, this whole line of thought was prompted by the light at the
bottom of the stairs going out as I was pulling a piece of Romex through
the same space. Whenever I knocked against one of the pieces of BX going
into the ceiling box (I was reaching above the ceiling space between the
studs) the light would go out, and then when I touched it again it would
come back on. I figured this needed immediate attention, and I just
imagined that I'd find that I'd have to repull all of the runs that
entered the box due to it being fried. Imagine my surprise when I pulled
it down and everything looked fine inside, but when I removed the
lampholder itself the neutral screw was loose. OK, reinstall, works.
Left it dangling from the wires and carefully wiggled the two wire nuts
inside the box. When I wiggled the neutral, the light would flicker. Not
good! removed wire nut, here it didn't have any spiral steel insert and
was very loose on the wires. Some electrician - presumably back in
1948! - didn't notice it, and here it was to freak me out 60 years
later... A new wire nut out of the electrical drawer and all is working
fine now

nate

(getting in practice for all the hidden work...)

--
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Old cloth covered AC cable was in my opinion, the worst of all building
cables. Anything would be better

So, you would rather have knob & tube or 2-wire ungrounded NM?

JK