Maybe so, but in older homes, which are probably 80 to 90% of the homes
out there, the wiring is a crap shoot. Everything from knob and tube
(yes there is some still in use), with or without insulation. Hot and
neutral may be interchanged at outlets and junction boxes. Never assume
that neutral is grounded back at the panel, or only at the panel. Outlet
and switch boxes may be used as junction boxes. Circuits may drop down
to an outlet box and back up to the attic, or they may continue on to
outlet boxes on the other side of the wall,
Even when you verify what's on a circuit, you can't be sure, where the
wires run without tracing them. Sometimes where they run and what's on
then can be a real surprise.
Don't even assume everything is correct from the power pole. IOW, never
assume any wiring is what you expect.
When we upgraded from the old 60A panel, to a 200A service (about 10
years ago), there was only one 1/4, or 5/16ths ground rod with a "loose"
mechanical clamp. That rod might have been 6 feet long.
The new service has 3 rods in what looked roughly to be a triangle that
might be 3/8ths in diameter. They didn't appear to be 1/2", but IIRC
they were 8 feet long.
So that "simple" upgrade took a lot more time and money than planned. At
least we didn't have any floating grounds.
I've traced some of the circuits, but as I've said before, the one is
daisy chained through 4 or maybe 5 rooms. I now know which outlets are
on that circuit, but not where the wires run, or where the junction
boxes are in the attic,
73
Roger (K8RI)
On 2/3/2016 Wednesday 5:43 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
On Wed,2/3/2016 10:18 AM, Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:
In theory, there should not be any hidden junction boxes behind drywall
Not only theory, but by LAW. NEC, which is adopted by most local
building departments, prohibits junction boxes with no access.
73, Jim K9YC
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