How to Rewire Your Home without an Electrician (And Save Thousands)

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with the right preparation and safety measures, it is possible for a diligent DIYer to rewire their home and save thousands of dollars in electrician fees. In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through all the key steps involved in rewiring a home safely and effectively without professional help.

Understanding Home Electrical Systems

Before beginning any electrical project, it's crucial to understand the basics of home electrical systems. Here's a quick overview:

• Service panel/breaker box - The central control box where electricity enters the home and distributes power to circuits. Includes main shutoff breaker and individual circuit breakers.

• Main service wires - Thick cables that deliver electricity from your utility company to the service panel.

• Circuit wiring - Individual circuits branching off the service panel, distributing electricity throughout the home. Each circuit breaker controls a specific circuit.

• Outlets and switches - End points of circuit wiring. Outlets provide power, switches control lights/appliances.

• Grounding system - Safety system that directs electricity away from occupants in case of malfunction. Includes ground wires and grounding rods outside.

Understanding these components will help immensely when planning and executing a rewiring project.

When Rewiring is Necessary

There are several signs that indicate your home's wiring is outdated or potentially dangerous and in need of replacement:

• Old/damaged wiring - Wiring over 40-50 years old may be degraded and prone to failure. Visible signs include brittle/cracked wire insulation, scorch marks, exposed copper.

• Small wire gauge - Outdated wiring is usually undersized for modern power demand. Look for 14 or 12 AWG wire. Modern minimum is 10 AWG.

• Not enough circuits - Homes built before the 1960s often have fewer than 5 circuits. Modern homes need 10-20 to run all appliances/devices safely.

• Ungrounded circuits - Lack of ground wires and grounded outlets is a major safety hazard.

• Frequent tripped breakers/fuses - Indicates circuits are overloaded and wiring cannot safely handle electricity demand.

• ** flickering lights/electronics turning off randomly** - Symptoms of wiring issues like loose connections, undersized wires, defective breakers.

If any of these apply to your home, a rewiring project will likely be necessary to bring it up to modern safety and energy efficiency standards.

Dangers of Rewiring Without Experience

While rewiring a home as a DIY project can certainly save money, it's absolutely vital to have a firm understanding of electrical principles and wiring methods before attempting this.

Attempting to rewire a home without sufficient knowledge and experience puts yourself and your family at serious risk of:

• Electrocution - Mistakes like touching live wires can result in severe injury or death by electrocution. Electricity must be fully disconnected at the main breaker before starting work.

• Fire - Faulty wiring is one of the major causes of residential fires. Improper wire gauges, loose connections, and incorrectly secured wires can overheat and ignite fires.

• Equipment damage - Mistakes like short circuits and voltage spikes can fry sensitive electronics and appliances throughout your home.

• Legal issues - Most jurisdictions require electrical work to be performed by licensed professionals with permits. You may have to tear out DIY wiring if it doesn't pass inspection.

The dangers involved mean electrical DIY is not a realm for novices. But with proper precautions, tools, skills and respect for electricity, the risks can be minimized.

Studying Electrical Theory

Before purchasing supplies and breaking out the wire strippers, its crucial for any DIYer to thoroughly study up on basic residential electrical principles, including:

• Current, voltage, watts - Understanding what these terms mean and how they relate is the foundation of all electrical work. Study their units of measurement and how they apply to your home's electrical system.

• AC power vs DC power - Alternating and direct current. AC is what supplies our homes. Know their differences and safety implications.

• Series vs parallel circuits - Two fundamental circuit configurations, important for planning new circuits.

• Conductors, insulators, grounding - Why certain materials conduct electricity, while others resist it. How proper grounding works to prevent electrocution and fire.

• Circuit requirements - How circuits are rated for amperage and voltage. Why overloading circuits is dangerous.

• Wiring sizing - How wire gauge corresponds to electrical capacity and why it matters.

• Code requirements - Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the National Electrical Code book to ensure any DIY wiring meets the law.

Focus your studies on the aspects of electrical theory that pertain directly to residential wiring. Understanding these core concepts before beginning a rewiring project will help ensure you work safely and effectively.

Essential Tools and Materials

If you're taking the DIY route, here are some of the key tools and materials needed:

Tools

• Voltmeter - For testing wires to confirm electricity is off before working.

• Wire strippers - For removing insulation from wiring.

• Needle-nose pliers - For bending, shaping wires to make clean connections.

• Electrician's tape - To insulate wire connections.

• Hammer stapler - For securing new wires to framing studs.

• Safety glasses/gloves - Protect yourself against live wires.

• Ladder/flashlight - For accessing ceiling boxes and seeing into dark spaces while wiring.

Materials

• NM-B Wire - Modern electrical wire for home use with flexible THHN conductors and outer sheathing. Have a range of gauges on hand.

• Wire nuts - For joining wires together securely.

• Breakers - New circuit breakers sized appropriately for each new circuit you'll create.

• Conduit - As required by code for protecting any exposed wiring.

• Junction boxes - For safely housing connections when joining multiple wires/cables.

• Receptacles & switches - New ones to replace old outlets/switches and add capacity.

This list provides a starting point of the basic tools and supplies needed for rewiring. Consult the electrical code for any additional materials required based on your specific project scope.

Disconnecting the Main Power

Before touching any wiring in your home, fully shutting off power at the main breaker is an absolute must. To do this safely:

1. Locate your main breaker panel and open the front cover.

2. Flip the main breaker to the "OFF" position. This primary breaker controls power from the utility line to your entire home.

3. Test that power is off. Use a non-contact voltmeter to confirm wires are de-energized. Check both hot and neutral.

4. With the main breaker off, you can now safely work on wiring throughout the home without risk of electrocution. Just be certain power stays off!

Performing these steps first protects you from the most catastrophic risk of electrical work - being shocked by live wires.

Running New Circuit Wiring

With the old wiring disconnected, running new wires for replacement circuits is next. Key steps include:

• Map out a wiring plan for new 20 amp small appliance branch circuits required by code. Include outlets in each room, keeping loads balanced.

• Select proper 10 or 12 AWG wire gauges capable of handling 20 amps for these smaller branch circuits.

• Use 14 or 12 AWG for general lighting circuits, depending on load.

• Run 2-3 powerful 240V appliance circuits for kitchen, laundry, shop areas using thick 6/3 w/ground cable.

• Use cable clamps and drill holes to route wires through framing. Secure with staples every 4-6 feet.

• Maintain safe separation between power and low voltage wiring. Cross at 90 degree angles.

• Connect wires securely using wire nuts. Tighten strongly by hand then gently with pliers. No loose strands.

• Affix junction box covers to protect each connection point before moving on.

Follow basic safety principles - confirm power is dead, handle wires with care, make robust connections. Guidance from reference materials like code books and wiring guides is advisable.

Installing New Breaker Panel

Once new wiring is run through the house, the old dangerously outdated breaker panel must be replaced with a new modern panel to restore power safely. Key steps in this process include:

• Select a large 200 amp rated panel with ample breaker slots for at least 20 circuits. This provides room to grow.

• Choose a panel with copper bus bars, not aluminum. Copper offers superior conductivity.

• Purchase proper two-pole 240V breakers for large appliance circuits per code.

• Ensure new panel matches brand of existing breakers to avoid compatibility issues.

• Carefully remove old panel without damaging existing wire connections.

• Mount new panel securely in place using provided backing plate.

• Transfer wires one at a time to matching circuit breakers in new panel.

• Double check all screw terminal connections are very tight. Loose connections cause arcing.

• Attach copper ground wires and grounding electrode conductor properly.

• Carefully close up panel and turn main breaker on once wiring is confirmed safe.

A new modern code-compliant breaker panel paired with your new wiring provides robust surge and overload protection. Take it slow and be meticulous - the panel is the heart of your home's electrical system.

Helpful Tips to Remember

• Check wires with a non-contact voltage tester every time before touching them. Expect that they're live.

• Turn power back on incrementally to check each circuit as you go. Don't energize everything at once.

• Label each wire as you disconnect it so you know what goes where when reconnecting.

• Take pictures before dismantling existing wiring for reference later.

• Consult the electrical code book anytime you have a question to avoid violations.

• If at any point you feel unsure or unsafe, stop work and call an electrician. DIY electrical work should only be undertaken by those with knowledge.

Conclusion

Rewiring an outdated home provides huge benefits in safety, efficiency and property value. While certainly not an easy DIY, with proper planning, tools and respect for electricity, a diligent homeowner can execute this project themselves and pocket major savings. Just be sure to study up first! Follow good practices and don't ever take risks when dealing with lethal voltage.