[just_in_mo]

Hello fellow form members, I picked the best form area that I thought was correct if not I apologize.

Anyways, I've rewired my house that I believe to be built around 1948. It has the old 2 wire (no ground) & was wondering if anyone had any more information about the wiring. Throughout the project I noticed on the Neutral wires there seems to be an "Aluminum" coating. Bare in mind these are no doubt copper wires. The hot wire looks to have been blackend by the rubber coating around it. This is a "Cloth" type wrapping around both wires & also another "Cloth" wrap around the neutral wire. The rubber "jacket" on the neutral was thinner than the hot line & seemed to fall apart very easy. Was this nuetral wire coated with aluminum or is it just badly oxidized? Here's some photo's.

 

[catdoo]

In old Loomex or Romex cable with cloth covering which seemed to be soaked in tar and painted the conductors had black rubber insulation, the neutral wire was "tinned" or silver colored for identification later when plastic insulation was used they had black and white covering . The tape used was friction tape which nowadays is used for hockey sticks, PVC tape is now used as insulating tape.

 

[just_in_mo]

Yeah, The black outer "braided?" cloth covering seemed to be some sort of asphalt tar based added to them according to my research. The nuetral & hot were both have a rubber lined jacket but the nuetral added an extra "cloth" cover that looked painted as you stated. The information you provided about the Nuetral being "tinned" in aluminum makes perfect sense for identification. I know they currently still use "tinned" copper in some applications but out of curiousity is this considered no longer in house electrical wiring. Either way, I used "Yellow" romex 12-2 for replacement & glad to research the history of wiring but also glad to see it go. After 70 some odd years it just wasn't up doing it's job. For example: one upstairs light kept flickering like the wire was arcing somewhere & sure enough after replacement with new wiring solved the problem. Some jack came in the 80's and all the wires routed to the basement. They just cut off where it came into the basement hacked some 12-2 cut off the ground wires & added a 100amp breaker panel with 6gauge service entrance wire then put 20amp breakers in, mind you all the old wiring is 14 gauge!!

Sorry, you lost me on the tape or "friction tape" Can you elaborate on my small brain?..haha

 

[just_in_mo]

All of upstairs, back 8x8' addition, bathroom, sons room, & outside outlet were all on one 20 amp breaker!

 

[just_in_mo]

ah, I think I know what you were referring to & ran into some of it in the light boxes, It was a "rubber" type tape wrapped around Soldered wires. I found 4 "Porcelin" wire nuts too.

 

[catdoo]

Y. The information you provided about the Nuetral being "tinned" in aluminum makes perfect sense for identification. I know they currently still use "tinned" copper in some applications

Sorry, you lost me on the tape or "friction tape" Can you elaborate on my small brain?..haha

The Tinned wire is actually coated with tin not aluminum, tin is part of solder.
As per wikipedia:
Friction tape is a type of adhesive tape made from cloth impregnated with a rubber-based adhesive, mainly used to insulate splices in electric wires and cables. Because the adhesive is impregnated in the cloth, friction tape is sticky on both sides. The rubber-based adhesive makes it an electrical insulator and provides a degree of protection from liquids and corrosion. In the past, friction tape was widely used by electricians,[1] but PVC electrical tape has replaced it in most applications today. The frictional properties of the tape come from the cloth material, which is usually made from cotton, while the fabric base protects electrical splices against punctures and abrasion.

Hope it's more clear now.

 

[Mrlunchbox]

All of upstairs, back 8x8' addition, bathroom, sons room, & outside outlet were all on one 20 amp breaker!

An old apartment house the wife and I rented a few years ago was like this. Had an updated 100a service and and new wiring downstairs. But upstairs, well was a different story. Had all active knob and tube wiring. I guess they couldn't figure it out as they ran one 14/2 romex (15a breaker) to the attic and it fed both upstairs bedrooms, the hallway, and the bathroom! Was always tripping that thing! It was nuts!

 

[Ariens93GT20]

We have lived in a few over the years were the wiring was single strand on glass insulators. All wires were the same color. I still have a collection of twist in fuses some where.

 

[just_in_mo]

Thanks for that information.. So happy to start the house rewire. It's been a chore but learning experience.