Re-wiring Living Room

I moved into a house built in 1900, and it would seem that the electricity in a few rooms haven't been updated. The LR, attic & basement all have 2 prong plugs. My question is how extensive/hard is is to re-wired to 3 prongs? Right now I'm usinf adaptors to plug things in, but they aren't grounded. I'm getting a large tank soon (75 gal.) and I can't plug anything in because the wiring is too old. All of the other rooms in the house have been re-wired to 3 prong outlets. How hard is it to do? Does id definently require an electrician? How expensive am I looking at?
Thanks!

 

Hello Amanda...sorry but me and electricity do not mix lol I think it's great that you bought a home built in 1900. Congrats!

 

Well, my mom bought it.
My parents divorced a while ago, so she bought this house. It's gorgeous, but the wiring is driving me crazy! It isn't allowing my MTS to spread!! lol

 

it's very easy if the wires are in conduit...which is EVERY building in chicago since the chicago fire. You just connect the ground lead to the conduit (or receptacle box) and you're set.

I don't even know how to do it if the wires aren't in conduit. Mains power without conduit scares me...a lot. I don't know why it isn't required everywhere.

edit: Just found this, it should get you started. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/section-33.html

 

uh-oh. That sounds scary! lolol.
How would I even be able to tell?

 

you need to find someplace where you can see the wiring...attic or basement usually works well. if you see conduit, and NOT loose wires then you've got conduit.

You then need to actually test the ground to make sure the conduit is continuous. You can do that with a continuity tester or multimeter.

You may also see some communications wires, which don't need to be in conduit. The power lines will be black and white running alongside each other.

edit: I should mention for everyone else, those three prong adapters are supposed to be used ONLY with grounded outlets. The metal tab goes into the screw on the faceplate to complete the circuit...but that screw must be grounded. You can test it with a multimeter.




Found some more that will help you test for conduit...scroll down about a third of the way. Very nice explanations with photos.

removed

 

HI Amanda.............. Is your house on a raised foundation or a concrete slab? If on a raised foundation new wires can be brought in under the house reasonably easy at least to a few locations for receptacles. If your house is on a slab it is a little more complicated because any new circuits have to be brought in through the attic and you would have to blow a few holes in the walls to get the wires to the receptacles................. Does your house have a new electrical service? Meaning where you read the meter. Is it old or new?

Rick

 

The meter is new, I know that.
My house has a basement, if that helps. rofl.

 

The meter is new, I know that.
My house has a basement, if that helps. rofl.

Ok that's good............ That means you can run any new wires with easy access. It also means Its grounded properly.............. Re-wiring the whole house is not a cheap propositon but running a few new circuits is usually not to expensive............... I don't know what type of system was originally wired in your house but back in the early 1900's at least here in So. Cal they used a thing called knob and tube wiring. It was a very good system for the time. The only problem basically is the sheathing on the wire itself would deteriorate over time.................... I will say one thing you can do if you want to ground one circuit for you're aquarium or aquariums is to just run a ground wire clamped on to the cold water pipe to the receptical where the tank is. Then you have to install a thing called a GFCI receptical. A GFCI is about $15.00.................. I hope this helps.

Rick

 

It's all very confusing, lol ,but I will be using this as a reference.
I'm trying to do as much as possible myself for my mom, as finances are tight enough for her. I'm removing wallpaper (textured no less) and replastering walls too.

 

It's all very confusing, lol ,but I will be using this as a reference.
I'm trying to do as much as possible myself for my mom, as finances are tight enough for her. I'm removing wallpaper (textured no less) and replastering walls too.

You should at least be able to get a free estimate from an electrical contractor.

 

I'll look into that! Thanks.
My classes end in 2 weeks, so I'll have the summer to look & plan.