How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

ELECTRICAL - OLD AND OBSOLETE

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about OLD AND OBSOLETE ELECTRICAL:

• What is rag wiring? 

• Is all cloth wiring dangerous? 

When did they stop using aluminum wiring? 

Is tinned copper wire safe? 

Why is there a 3-phase breaker in a single phase electric panel with only two bus bars? 

 When did knob and tube wiring stop being used in homes? 

Is knob and tube wiring illegal?

When should a corroded or damaged electric panel cabinet or disconnect box be replaced? 

What are the code requirements for an old fuse panel/box? 

What is a split bus electric panel?

How do I identify a combination AFCI (CAFCI) circuit breaker? 

Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? 

Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

Why is an old fuse panel dangerous?  

Why are Zinsco and Sylvania-Zinsco electric panels a problem? 

Who is the manufacturer of those "bad" electric panels?

• How do I find out the manufacturer of an old electrical panel?

Should I buy a house with a fuse panel/box? 

How dangerous is rust and corrosion inside an electrical panel?

 Are old fuse boxes illegal?

Why are Challenger electrical panels not insurable? 

When did they stop using aluminum wiring in houses?

• Are Wadsworth electrical panels dangerous? 

How old is a Wadsworth breaker panel?

• How old is a Walker EQ Load Center electrical panel? Is it unsafe? 

How old is a Pushmatic electrical panel? is it safe?

When should I replace electric receptacle outlets? 

  • What are those strange looking wall switches in houses from the 1950s and 1960s? 

 • Are light switches required to be grounded? 

How dangerous is old electrical wiring?

Is there an adapter that can be placed on a two-slot receptacle to make it safe? 

 I heard that aluminum wiring is bad. How do you check for aluminum wiring? 

What is "knob and tube" wiring? 

Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?

Are two-prong outlets up to code and legal?

 What can I do about an apartment with only two prong/slot receptacle outlets?

What is tinned copper wiring?

• Will old cloth wiring cause me to fail a four-point insurance inspection? 

What is an MRD Energy Model R-80?

• What are common problems with split-bus electrical panels?

• Are split-bus electrical panels illegal? 

When did code require replacement of cloth wiring in homes?

Why did circuit breakers replace fuses?  


Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets