electric question

[Clarence Martin]

Any idea how old this 220 volt line is ?363861

It's the silver colored wire , 2nd wire down from the beam

[Morey St. Denis]

Looks to be commensurate with the age of the building. Other clues are smooth planed dimensional lumber multiply sistered together to make an adequate joist, along with that flexible metallic conduit and black iron pipe. I've seen the same materials used in homes from the late forties to mid-fifties. Am I close?

[Clarence Martin]

Looks to be commensurate with the age of the building. Other clues are smooth planed dimensional lumber multiply sistered together to make an adequate joist, along with that flexible metallic conduit and black iron pipe. I've seen the same materials used in homes from the late forties to mid-fifties. Am I close?


No. House built in 1870

[Michael Weber]

No. House built in 1870
Sure it's not a gas line then;) My 1920's house had knob and tube but someone then ran 220 for an electric oven. Wire had silver insulation. Probably done in the 50's or 60's.

[Morey St. Denis]

Clearly then, the rather limited section you've photographed is certainly not original to a home built in 1870. Can you disclose the point of your inquiry?.. Are you concerned with the reliability or current capacity of that particular large gauge 3 conductor jacketed wire?..

[Michael Weber]

363910This might be of help. http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Old_Electrical_Wiring.php. Also a home inspection site about cloth covered wire. http://www.mystpetersburghomeinspector.com/cloth-covered-wiring.html discusses use dates and notes how brittle the insulation has become since use.