What is knob and tube cabling?
The knob and tube cabling is the style of electrical connection that dates back to the end of the 19th century. The connection of buttons and tubes (K&T) was one of the first widely used methods of providing electricity to households in the United States and other countries and allowed homeowners to use electric lighting for the first time. While this connection style can still be found in homes that were built before 1940, it was largely replaced by more modern electric systems.
In the button connection system and tubes, individual wires pass through the inner walls or ceiling cavities. Each wire is protected by a ceramic or porcelain tube as it passes rays and other building elements. To attach the wires to the walls, electricians used a ceramic knob, which had an appearance similar to sewing. The wire was wrapped around the button and then the button was nailed to the wall. Using this installation technique, the installation staff can ensure that the wire remains separate from the building foldery that helped reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Many buttons used in the button and the tube had a groove around the center to hold the wire in place. Others had wide edges that helped prevent the wires from slipping from the button. The end of the button could be placed flat on the wall and the nail was hammered to the other end to secure the button in place.
During the end of the 19th and early 20th century, the cabling of the button and the tube was one of the only ways to bring electricity to the house. While at that time there were more advanced wiring methods, they were so expensive that they were impractical for most families. As long as the wires were uncovered in this system, excessive heat could easily disperse and the risk of electric fires remained low.
Today, the involvement of K&T is often considered a negative feature, and many believe that Be is dangerous. While the knob and tube cabling can have in some areasTech bad reputation, this type of connection is not inherently dangerous. If the cabling is still in good condition after years of use, it can be often maintained in place and used to power modern houses.
Of course, modern connection methods are often much safer and pose a much lower risk than older buttons and tube cabling. This type of connection is particularly dangerous in houses with blown insulation, because the contact between wires and insulation could lead to fires. Houses with a button and the connection of the tube are often not simply the task of powering modern appliances or handling high electric requirements of a modern family. Many building regulations require homeowners to update the older involvement within the renovation project or improve houses. In addition, insurance companies can deny coverage to homeowners until they replace the cabling K&T with more modern electric systems.