• Felis_Catus_Domesticus@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    old wiring is sketchy. materials degrade over time. plastic polymer technology used in insulators before the late 70’s was not what it is today. insulation on new wires will last 80++ years. The old stuff, not so much…

    • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      Aye. And there are still some runs of cloth insulated stuff in my basement. If I ever touch that (literally), those lengths will have to be replaced. Things to do, things to do.

      • Felis_Catus_Domesticus@lemmy.world
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        1 hour ago

        not touching it (until you replace it) is a good game plan.

        that eliminates breakage and just leaves rats as the unpredictable variable.

        check out “knob and tube” wiring if you really don’t want to sleep well at night.

        that stuff’s a horror show by today’s standards.

        • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.world
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          53 minutes ago

          I know all about knob and tube, yes. There are some thankfully already decommissioned stretches of that nailed to the joists in my basement which I’ve left there as a historical curio.