preparation for re-wire

[Anonymous]

I posted over on the building/repair of existing homes side, and didn't get much of a response. I'm hoping that it was just the wrong forum, and that my being a novice to electricity and probably misusing some terms didn't offend anyone....

I'm trying to get my head around how to get started rewiring my old house. I have a mix of old tinned copper wiring (I'd say 1/3) and newer copper wiring (2/3) - I think most of the newer wire is okay as is.

Some specific questions:
1) My kitchen circuit currently holds the DW, disposal, 2 countertop outlets (neither are GFCI), overhead kitchen light, one basement outlet, basement overhead light ceiling fan in living room, and front porch light. Badly overloaded, I know.

If I "touch" this circuit to reorganize/properly balance load, am I forced then to upgrade everything to code, like the minimum distances between outlets in the kitchen, for example? I'll have to go through tile and old plaster if I have to, so I'd rather not.

2) When I'm splitting circuits apart to balance the load, can I just splice new runs of wire from the service panel into existing wiring so long as those connections are made in a junction box? I think that's what I'm reading...

3) There are several "normal" wall type outlet receptacles on the floor in my living room and den. If and when I modify the circuit(s) that these are on through my effort to balance loads, are those acceptable to code, or do I have to have a special type of receptacle for floor use?

4) Is there a standard number of receptacles/lights that is used to figure how many circuits I need?

5) I'm low on space in my panel. In addition to the reorganization I mentioned above, I also need to eventually add basic service to my garage, and re-wire my basement shop area. I may be able to take a sub-panel approach in one, or both of these cases, but are there any rules regarding the physical location of those sub-panels?

I apologize if my questions are more elementary than you all are used to, or longwinded.......I'm just trying to get started and would appreciate any help you can provide.

Thanks,
Mike

[6pack]

Think you had posted earlier with?'s pertaining to track light and rigid conduit? Any luck? If you haven't already go to opening page(Forum) at upper left, click on SITE MAP,DEFINITIONS go to dwelling calculations and go to MAIN DWELLING wiring a dwelling.(2002) Read these articles for starters. Your 100 AMP may be large enough with sub panel added,read these over and keep in mind what you plan to do in future, you may move soon, want a 220V range or W/H or a HOT TUB. Again if you have some walls open nows the time! GL

[6pack]

Also check DWELLING-- Term EXISTING

[Anonymous]

Thanks, wannabee. I read through the pages you suggested, and I was able to get some good info.

I also called the local inspection dept. (plan review supervisor) - according to him, I can, in fact, pull the myriad of wires in my pancake box up into the attic, and make these connections in a junction box. Then, replace the pancake box with a new box to mount my track light hub. I'm still going to have to deal with removing some rigid conduit running to this pancake box, so that's still going to be a challened.

At the same time, instead of totally rewiring the place to balance the load, he suggested that I just pull a new circuit to serve the DW, which will lessen the load on the existing single kitchen circuit.

The important thing for me right now is to get things back up and running, with some actual kitchen light, and power in my shop so that I can finish my molding and other trim. So, this first step sounds less complicated in terms of meeting local code than I originally thought.

Thanks for your help. I may be back when I decide to attack rewiring my shop....

Thanks again,
Mike