I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.

Should be fine- as it's never had current through it, and therefore
heat, as long as the jacket is ok, it should be ok to use! A great
deal, by the standard of pricing in my area...

That goes for 120 bucks in the Chicago area-

YOWSAH!

Glenn
http://www.goalelectrical.com/forum

Toller wrote:
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

IT IS UNSAFE. I'm so concerned about your safety I will double your
money and buy it from you for $30 so you're not tempted to use it.

You should be fine (you lucky dog) as long as the wire isn't 'AL
Cu-clad', copper-clad aluminum. Should be marked but clip the end to
make sure it is not shiny inside. If it is aluminum inside I would
scrap it.

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



Actually the temperature rating is probably not the same as the new stuff.
The cable that you bought is most likely rated for 60 degrees centigrade.
The new Romex is rated for at least 90 degrees. Did you ever remove an old
light fixture and find that the insulation on the feed wire in the ceiling
box was crisp from heat?

Just out of curiosity, is this vinyl-covered NM with THHN-insulated
wires, old braided NM, or what?

buy it, use it... just not on your own house. ;-)

I'm sure that 99% of houses that are 40 years old have 40 year old
cable... and it works fine.

Don't buy aluminum cable though....make sure it's copper.

"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I
know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this
one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus
from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



Actually the temperature rating is probably not the same as the new stuff.
The cable that you bought is most likely rated for 60 degrees centigrade.
The new Romex is rated for at least 90 degrees. Did you ever remove an
old
light fixture and find that the insulation on the feed wire in the ceiling
box was crisp from heat?

All the wiring in my hous is NM rather than NMB. Apparently it was done the
year before the new stuff came out. No problems so far...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Just out of curiosity, is this vinyl-covered NM with THHN-insulated
wires, old braided NM, or what?

Not that old! Vinyl coated then insulated. I haven't cut it back to see
the wire insulation.

If the wire is 60 degree cable you can use it as long as you do not use it
in any lighting boxes as the heat will cook the insulation, also it will not
pass code.

"Toller" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Just out of curiosity, is this vinyl-covered NM with THHN-insulated
wires, old braided NM, or what?

Not that old! Vinyl coated then insulated. I haven't cut it back to see
the wire insulation.

"Toller" wrote in message
...

"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening
to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I
know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this
one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus
from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



Actually the temperature rating is probably not the same as the new
stuff.
The cable that you bought is most likely rated for 60 degrees
centigrade.
The new Romex is rated for at least 90 degrees. Did you ever remove an
old
light fixture and find that the insulation on the feed wire in the
ceiling
box was crisp from heat?

All the wiring in my hous is NM rather than NMB. Apparently it was done
the
year before the new stuff came out. No problems so far...



I've never been a fan of using yesterday's technology today.

I'd buy every roll on the shelf at that price.

Mark

------------

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:40:10 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:17:44 -0500, "John Grabowski"
wrote:


"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



Actually the temperature rating is probably not the same as the new stuff.
The cable that you bought is most likely rated for 60 degrees centigrade.
The new Romex is rated for at least 90 degrees. Did you ever remove an old
light fixture and find that the insulation on the feed wire in the ceiling
box was crisp from heat?

One reason to avoid sealed fixtures. To correct the problem, you can
place a box ahead of the fixtire and run hi-temp wire the last few
feet (formerly asbestos coated wire, not sure what they use
now).inside of some greenfield.

OR

The easier solution, use Compact Florescent bulbs (made for sealed
enclosures). And save some money on the electric bill too. Very
little heat from them.....

Mark

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:40:10 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



I would not use it for installing electrical circuits, but it would be
okay for speaker wire or cord for misc uses so no it is not a rip off.
Gauge #14 is for lighting circuits.

Phisherman wrote:
On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:40:10 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



I would not use it for installing electrical circuits, but it would be
okay for speaker wire or cord for misc uses so no it is not a rip off.
Gauge #14 is for lighting circuits.


Yeah, that should be real practical for speaker wire or uses other than
electrical circuits.

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything
happening to the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.

Let's see:
12G copper wire is 20# per1000 feet. You have 750 feet, or roughly 15 pounds
of copper.

Recycled copper is worth, oh, $1.50 per pound or, in your case, ~$25.00.

Heck, if you could strip off the insulation, you could almost double your
money!

Phisherman wrote:
On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:40:10 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.



I would not use it for installing electrical circuits, but it would be
okay for speaker wire or cord for misc uses so no it is not a rip off.
Gauge #14 is for lighting circuits.

Care to explain just why you wouldn't use it for circuits? #12 is
bigger than 14 and can be fused for 20 amp vice 15.

Harry K

Believe me, it doesn't take 1000' to get to twenty pounds.

--
Steve Barker



"HeyBub" wrote in message
...

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is
really old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything
happening to the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I
know installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up
some during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this
one. I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire
surplus from garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.

Let's see:
12G copper wire is 20# per1000 feet. You have 750 feet, or roughly 15
pounds of copper.

Recycled copper is worth, oh, $1.50 per pound or, in your case, ~$25.00.

Heck, if you could strip off the insulation, you could almost double your
money!

In article , "Steve Barker LT" wrote:
Believe me, it doesn't take 1000' to get to twenty pounds.

Are you remembering that 250 feet of 12-2 WG has 750 feet of copper wire in
it?

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article ,
says...

"Toller" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15.
[snip]

Let's see:
12G copper wire is 20# per1000 feet. You have 750 feet, or roughly 15 pounds
of copper.

You forgot about the ground wire. He has 1000 feet.

Yes, and given your example of 12/2 w/ground being 750 feet, this roll
weighs over 37 lbs.

--
Steve Barker



"Doug Miller" wrote in message
m...
In article , "Steve Barker
LT" wrote:
Believe me, it doesn't take 1000' to get to twenty pounds.

Are you remembering that 250 feet of 12-2 WG has 750 feet of copper wire
in
it?

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Toller wrote:
I just bought a 250' roll of 12/3NM for $15. The trick is that it is really
old. The cable bends back and forth nicely without anything happening to
the insulation, but the box is crumbling.

Is this okay to use, or might age have done something to it. Yeah, I know
installed 40 year old cable is just fine, but this will be bent up some
during installation, so it might not be the same thing.
Anyone know?

They had a second roll, but I don't think I will ever go through this one.
I just sold 420' of 14/2 (for $85) because I had a major wire surplus from
garage sales; I just can't resist a deal.

Some of the older cable had a 16 AWG or 18 AWG equipment ground
conductor. Is the equipment ground smaller than the other conductors?
If so, you couldn't use it for new wiring without violating code. It
must be the same size as the other conductors.