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Re: [RFI] Finding house noise sources

To: rfi@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Finding house noise sources
From: "Roger (K8RI)" <k8ri@rogerhalstead.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 20:46:59 -0500
List-post: <rfi@contesting.com">mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
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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