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Author Topic: Station wiring  (Read 846 times)

N8CHR

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Station wiring
« on: February 21, 2021, 08:24:53 AM »

Ipurchased an old house. Build 1890. Most of the tube and knob wiring has been replaced with wiring from the 1960s or so. My shack is in a second floor bedroom. Wiring is two wire, no ground. I cannot get thru the walls to replace it. I was thinking about running a signal strand number 12 on the outside of the house,thru the window and to the reseptecals. Wire would be attached to the ground in the breaker box. Would this work? Is it legal? What about rf? Any thoughts?
Thanks Tom N8CHR
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AB3MO

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2021, 09:07:46 AM »

To save yourself a lot of future questions, please buy a copy of the National Electrical Code (see Amazon or Barnes & Noble?).  All wiring now done needs to meet current requirements (and generally be inspected) or, in case of loss, your insurance coverage could be void!  Additionally, you do not want to build a permanent problem into your house.
Dave, AB3MO
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K6AER

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2021, 09:12:11 AM »

I don’t think this permitted by the NEC code but you need to check with the local building inspector. That is a lot of work to salve a problem for little grounding benefit. Are you worried about lightning? If so, your antenna grounding needs to be at the house AC panel with sufficient grounding path (less than 10 ohm ground resistance) to earth ground.

I would just run a separate 10 gage romex from the panel with its separate 30-amp barkers to a sub panel  for just the ham station, up stares. The a pair of 20 amp breakers for 240 volts for the amplifier and two breakers for 120 volt plug outlets. By using a Jacuzzi sub panel, you would have a master disconnect for the station. Nothing helps equipment survive a power line lightning surge like being disconnected when not in use. Also install a surge protector (Eaton is a good one) on the home master panel. Ninety five percent of lightning damage comes in via the power distribution system.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2021, 09:23:33 AM by K6AER »
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KF5LJW

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2021, 09:18:39 AM »

No it will not fly and will not comply with any electrical codes. However being a ham means there are no rules, nor do the law law of physics apply  to hams. All you need to do is find some magic wire with no impedance.
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W1VT

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2021, 10:58:57 AM »

My house was built in 1953 and rewired in 1995.  The three guys who did it signed the main breaker panel.  Ten years later I hired a company that only hires master electricians to add power to the garage.

Zak W1VT
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KF5LJW

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2021, 11:58:55 AM »

One of the first things you need for the shack is at least 1 dedicated branch circuit. If you have a linear amp would also need a dedicated 240 VAC. So the answer to your question is hire an electrician to install you a dedicated circuit or two , and run it on the outside of the house. 
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K6AER

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2021, 12:19:12 PM »

A lot easier to run a 240 remote panel and due the wiring yourself.
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WA9AFM

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2021, 12:41:54 PM »

Also, get a copy of "Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur" by Ward Silver, N0AX.  It covers RF management, lightning protection, and electrical safety.  All three are related.
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W8RLC

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2021, 01:12:35 PM »

To save yourself a lot of future questions, please buy a copy of the National Electrical Code (see Amazon or Barnes & Noble?).  All wiring now done needs to meet current requirements (and generally be inspected) or, in case of loss, your insurance coverage could be void!  Additionally, you do not want to build a permanent problem into your house.
Dave, AB3MO
AB3MO is correct - but check with your home owners insurance they will give you the straight skinny. In most states as previously stated either licensed electrician does the work or it needs to be inspected and approved by one.
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K1JRF

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2021, 09:14:29 PM »

I bought a multi that had wiring like this run outside in conduit and was told it was legal but it did not come thru a window it went thru a hole in the wall with waterproof grommets etc. Later found out it was not legal. And a licensed plumber told me I could replace my own water heater too in the people's republic of nashua nh and I learned that was not so and the building inspectors for that chitty have arrest powers these days for doing stuff like that. Can u believe that?
So the moral of the story is get multiple professional opinions and assume nuttin. John
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K6BRN

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2021, 10:24:06 PM »

Frankly the house needs to be rewired.  NOW.

I spent some time growing up in a double-walled brick farmhouse with doorknob wiring, rotary electrical switches and a kerosene stove for heat.  The old, very flammable cotton insulated wiring had deteriorated severely over the years, was bare in a lot of places and the fusebox only had two (2) 15A fuses for a two storey home, chicken coop and barn (yes, they ALL ran off of the same panel) and the electric meter GROANED when the toaster or shallow well water pump turned on.  The bathroom was in the corner of the basement, across from a coal burning pot-bellied stove.

When central heat was finally put in in the late 1990's, the entire electrical system had to be upgraded - it could not be insured until the upgrades were completed and inspected.  Masonry drills were used to bore through the brick where needed, and in some places conduit was laid over the wall.  Expensive work, but well worth it.

Finally the house had AC safety grounds and an electrical system that (probably) wouldn't catch fire!  And central heat.  And reliable hot water.

Dereck!

"No it will not fly and will not comply with any electrical codes. However being a ham means there are no rules, nor do the law law of physics apply  to hams. All you need to do is find some magic wire with no impedance."

Really!  I'm shocked!  You KNOW there's a shortage of room temperature superconductor right now!  Please don't tease the O.P.  :)

Brian - K6BRN
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W1VT

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2021, 06:21:18 AM »

Rewiring the house would be a wise investment.  It is hard to imagine a more better investment than getting rid of that old wiring and updating to modern electrical standards.

Zak W1VT
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KA1VF

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2021, 08:09:50 AM »

This house was built in 1910 and when we bought it in 1971, it had a mix of three types
of wiring (mostly knob and tube) and the old screw in round fuses in the service panel.
In 1986, we hired a recently furloughed Massachusetts licensed Master electrician to
rewire our entire house while he was waiting to get recalled by his employer that only
did new big jobs (shopping centers, hospitals, municipals, etc.). With me as his helper,
we got two two thirds of the house rewired and a new 200 Amp push button service
panel installed before he got recalled to his old job and quite my job. The project got
stalled at that point until 1991, when I hired a local Master electrician to finish rewiring.
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KF5LJW

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2021, 09:57:36 AM »

Rewiring the house would be a wise investment. 

What do you want to bet it would be very expensive to do correctly and legally? Old homes with Knob & Tube wiring using asbestos insulation and all those fibers laying on top lead paint chips. Better off to burn it to the ground, let insurance (someone else) pay for it, and rebuild.    8)
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W9FIB

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Re: Station wiring
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2021, 03:31:51 AM »

Rewiring the house would be a wise investment. 

What do you want to bet it would be very expensive to do correctly and legally? Old homes with Knob & Tube wiring using asbestos insulation and all those fibers laying on top lead paint chips. Better off to burn it to the ground, let insurance (someone else) pay for it, and rebuild.    8)

I don't want to pay for his house. My premiums are to high the way it is.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.
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