Home Improvement Today?

So the plan was to install this 2-gang hi/low voltage box to replace the current 1-gang outlet in the dining room. The low voltage side would just be an ethernet port, so i could have a desk nearby (right now there is just a file cabinet and laser printer there).



I figured out this box has in own circuit, the only other thing other then the outlet is the kitchen light, why its like this, i dont know. So it looks like it going to be a problem trying to replace this whole metal box, as there is conduit going to the top and bottom. So I was thinking, could i get a 2-gang low voltage plate, secure one side of it in front of the current old school box, and just go from there?

 

You should shut it off tonight and see what happens. If it is the buildings exterior lighting I would just leave it off. That is pretty sleazy.

 

Do you have an electric water heater. It's a double pole so it's a 220v circuit which wouldn't be lighting.

 

neighbors blackberry/raspberry vines are becoming invasive. taking over my new fence... how to manage these? round up doesn't work very well/long as it isn't getting to the roots.

 

Water heater and dryer is gas. I was thinking the A/C, but it works fine with that breaker off. I cant think of any 220v items in the whole building.

EDIT: It turns out it is the A/C

 

Do we what we do at work; shut it off until someone complains. We seriously do that sometimes.

 

Ahh, im an idiot. The two pole 30amp is for the A/C. I turned it off, and the furnace fan was still running, so I assumed it was working until i looked outside and saw the A/C not running.

 

Your 30 amp could/should be for the condenser (outside unit) of your interior air handler, but you say it cools with the breaker off..... hmmm. Are you sure?

Maybe you only noticed the fan blowing without the condenser outside running?

 

Nvrmd, you got it.

 

Yep, thats exactly what was happening. I figured it out.

Im still wondering what the best way to go about this would be:

 

Use a 1 inch paintbrush and paint the leaves with bleach. Yes, household bleach. One or two light applications is sufficient.

 

I'd metal blade sawzall the box nailer from the box, then cut the wall (without cutting the line voltage wires) to fit the 2 gang old work box.

... That will afford you enough room to remove the connectors from the metal box. Do you know if that wire is old fabric romex or MC cable with fabric sheathing?

Either way, be careful not to crack open/away the old brittle fabric ...... tape it up good if you do.

 

Whats wrong with some free tasty berries?

 

Not sure what you mean by cutting the box nailer. There are wires coming up, connecting to the outlet, then continuing up to the light fixture i assume. There are also two wires in the back of the box, bypassing the outlet completely. I dont think i can remove the box without cutting those. Seeing as this installation is nearly 100 years old, i dont want to tear in to it unless its going to be done correctly.

The wire is cloth insulation on the conductor.

Im wondering if i can leave the box as it is and put a 2 gang bracket in front of it.

Or should i cut the rear most wires, remove the box, and use a wire nut to re-attach them. And install a box like this that can accommodate the conduit. Or even a regular metal 2 gang box.




Would that be proper?

 

He is talking about the nails attaching the metal box to the stud. Cutting those and enlarging the hole for your new larger box will give you enough room/movement to work.

Why do you need to rewire the box? With those old wires I would leave the box where it is and then just add whatever Ethernet line you need to the right without a box and use a double face plate to make it appear that there is one.

 

Your metal outlet box is part of your grounding system. I would not remove that, in fact I would highly recommend using a low voltage old work box in a close proximity but not at the same location as the existing outlet.

My $.02, for what it's worth.

 

The metal box might, or might not be part of the ground system. In some older homes a bare ground wire was attached to the backside of the metal box or the BX metal cladding provided the ground, but most are not grounded. In this case, the conductors are fabric covered, so no BX cladding.

I agree with not removing the box and just installing a low voltage box nearby. As others have mentioned the covering on old conductors easily cracks.

 

I agree, that can be the case, however it is clear by the picture that there is NO ground going from the box to the outlet, hence why I made my statement. (still good to note what you said as accurate though )

 

A couple of the outlets, like in the bedroom, are the original 2 prong, non-polarized outlets. They changed a few to 3 prong, though when you use a outlet tester, you can see the third prong isnt connected to anything.

I think im going to go with the low voltage bracket option.

 

Even the two prong receptacles have polarity, just no ground prong.....one slot is shorter and should be connected to the hot/black wire while the longer slot should be connected to the neutral/white wire. You can still purchase these and they should be used instead of the three prong outlets if the receptacle is not grounded.

It is acceptable to replace a two prong outlet with a GFCI receptacle, especially near wet areas as they will still provide ground fault protection without the ground wire and will also protect any downstream outlets. The box will contain a sticker to affix which states non-grounded.