Rewiring a home's electrical system is a major project that requires knowledge, skill, and extreme caution. As a homeowner, I decided to take on this complex task myself to save on labor costs. With proper preparation and adherence to electrical codes and safety standards, it is possible for a dedicated DIYer to successfully rewire their home.
Understanding Home Electrical Systems
Before touching a wire, I needed to educate myself on residential electrical systems. Here are the key things I learned:
Electrical Service and Main Panel
The electrical service brings power into the home. For most homes, this means overhead or underground power lines connect to a meter and service panel outside. The service panel contains circuit breakers or fuses that distribute electricity through the main panel inside. The main panel connects to all the home's branch circuits.
Branch Circuits
Branch circuits carry power from the main panel to different zones in the home. A typical home has between 5-10 branch circuits. Common branch circuits include:
- Lighting circuits - Supply power to interior and exterior lights
- Outlet circuits - Supply power to electrical outlets in specific rooms or areas
- Appliance circuits - Dedicated lines for large appliances like stoves, dryers etc.
Wiring and Conduits
Electrical wires transmit power through the branch circuits. In modern homes, wiring is usually copper. The wires are bundled and routed through conduits - metal or plastic tubes that protect the wiring. Different colored wires are used for hot, neutral and ground.
Switches, Outlets and Lights
The branch circuits connect to switches, outlets, light fixtures and appliances. These are termination points along the circuit. Switches control lights and fans. Outlets supply power for plug-in devices. Lights and appliances tap into the power.
Safety Gear and Tools
Rewiring a home requires some essential safety gear and tools:
- Electrical gloves - Protect hands from shocks
- Safety goggles - Prevent eye injuries
- Dust mask - Avoid breathing dust when cutting into walls
- Voltage tester - Verify power is off before working
- Clamp meter - Measures current flow
- Continuity tester - Confirm wires are connected
- Wire strippers - Removing insulation from wires
- Cable cutters - Cutting and clipping wires
- Fish tape - Threading wires through walls
I also used common hand tools like hammers, screwdrivers, saws and drills for access and repairs. Safety should be the top priority.
Planning the Rewiring Project
Careful planning is crucial before starting a rewiring project. I took the following steps:
- Consult local codes - Get permit if required and follow safety rules
- Circuit mapping - Label all circuits at the panel to identify branches
- Inspection - Check wiring, outlets, switches for damage and defects
- Load calculation - Estimate electrical usage for each room
- Develop plan - Determine new circuit layout, materials needed
- Schedule outage - Rewiring means power shutoff for days or weeks
- Budget - Factor cost of materials and professional help if needed
Thorough planning helped the project go smoothly and avoided surprises.
Running New Wires
The most labor intensive task was running all new wires through the house. Here is how I did it:
- Turn off power - Shut off main breaker and verify it's dead
- Remove old wires - Pull out obsolete wires from attic, basement and walls
- Map routes - Plan routing for each new circuit
- Cut access holes - Cut openings near panels and endpoints
- Fish wires - Use fish tape to thread wires through walls and floors
- Label wires - Tag ends of each wire to identify the circuit
- Pull wires - Carefully pull bundled wires through conduits
- Seal holes - Seal up access holes with plaster and drywall
I found it helpful to start wiring on one floor and work room by room. Plenty of holes and messy walls are part of the process.
Installing New Outlets, Switches and Fixtures
With the wires run, I was ready to install:
- Electrical boxes - New outlet and switch boxes anchored to studs
- Outlets - GFCI outlets in kitchen, bathrooms and outdoors
- Switches - Match number and type of existing switches
- Light fixtures - Update worn or damaged light fixtures
- Cover plates - Install new decorative cover plates throughout
I replaced most outlets and switches for better safety and looks. Each had to be wired carefully and tested.
Connecting the Panel and Grounding
After all the wiring, the final steps were:
Main Service Panel
- Shut off main power
- Remove old panel and discard
- Mount new panel and re-feed wires
- Re-connect grounding wire to panel and water pipe
Branch Circuits
- Label all circuit breakers
- Connect wires from each branch circuit to breakers
- Ensure neutral and ground wires are isolated
Bonding
- Bond conduits and metal junction boxes
- Ensure continuity on all grounding conductors
Proper grounding and bonding helps prevent shocks and fires. The local inspector checked my work before re-energizing.
Testing and Troubleshooting
With the new electrical system installed, I thoroughly tested it:
- Turned power back on at the main panel
- Flipped each breaker on one at a time
- Verified power at outlets using a voltmeter
- Tested each switch to confirm operation
- Checked all light fixtures and appliances
Where issues cropped up:
- No power - Tested wires for continuity and termination
- Lights flickering - Tightened loose wire connections
- Noisy fan - Repaired grounded conductor in the circuit
- GFCI tripping - Reset breaker; replaced any damaged outlets
Taking it slow and checking each point allowed me to catch and fix problems.
Conclusion
Rewiring a home is a major undertaking. Proper preparation, safety protocols, technical skill and testing is crucial. While not for a novice, a dedicated DIYer can definitely take on rewiring their electrical system and get it done right. I saved thousands of dollars in labor costs. More importantly, I can rest easy knowing my home's electrical system is safer and up to modern standards.