Soldering the buss and taping

[gjvjr50]

The real problem with ‘knob and tube’ wiring is that it was not installed to handle modern day loads. We have added a lot of devices to our homes compared to the days of ‘knob and tube’, but the design could save money/wire over romex

[slammin]

In basements and other exposed areas knob and tube was too easy for amateur electricians to splice and add outlets and other runs, not so attractive with romex. Many early 20th century homes had the exposed wiring replaced but the wiring in the walls was still knob and tube.

[Blue_Flamer]

I can see how some can be concerned but if separated enough most are more than safe. I guess I picked it up replacing old knob and tube wiring in my first house. A lot of the conductors were bare from age but since they had separation a single nail or screw could never short the conductors which actually made it safer. I had left it in place for ceiling lighting at the recommendation of an old timer electrician. Many times as a technician I found shorts caused by nails or screws in paired jacketed wires. I would trust 2 single conductors spaced by 4 or more inches over a pair of 12 gauge jacketed wires any day. Take a handful of nails and try to short each one by driving them through the board above. The single wires will survive every time. Then take a drill bit and drill random holes as a modeler does with building lighting around the feeders and you’ll have similar results. The single conductors will never short but a hit to the twin conductors, not so lucky. It doesn’t sound good on the surface but if you think about it, not bad IMO.

Hamltnblue.

I normally do not disagree with posters on these Forums, but in this case I do. I spent 41+ years as a HVAC Serviceman & Service Supervisor with the Gas Company. As such, I had a number of occasions back in the mid '50’s through the late '90’s to be involved with the Fire Department investigating the causes of fires where the gas appliances, piping and/or meters were involved or damaged during the course of a fire. In several cases, it was determined that the initial cause of the fire was faulty Knob and Tube wiring. Whoever the electrician was that advised you that it was OK to leave the Knob & Tube in place and use it for your lights did you a dis-service as the insulators may break over time and the insulation DEFINITELY will

[Hamltnblue]

The problem with knob and tube was overheating due to modern appliances being added to circuits that were never intended to be used on them. Fires happen just as often when romex or any other wire is over heated. There’s plenty of old style cloth romex falling apart that I see quite often that is vastly more dangerous than knob and tube. As far as safety I agree the more precaution you take the better. But once again if you or anyone thinks that bare single conductors 4 inches apart on a DCC is dangerous they better insulate their rails in a hurry.

[JSperan]

There’s plenty of old style cloth romex falling apart that I see quite often that is vastly more dangerous than knob and tube.

The cloth covered cable you describe is not Romex, and I do agree it is more dangerous than knob & tube because the insulation becomes brittle over time. However, it is not just appliances that pose an overloading problem with knob & tube wiring. Modern light fixtures often draw many more watts than the single porcelain keyless or pullchain fixture with a 40 or 60 watt bulb that was the norm when knob & Tube wiring was installed. Also neutrals were/are often unbalanced and often were overloaded in knob & Tube wiring systems.

Pretending knob & tube is better than modern wiring materials and practices, and advocating it’s use is just plain old bad advice regardless of where you got the idea.

But once again if you or anyone thinks that bare single conductors 4 inches apart on a DCC is dangerous they better insulate their rails in a hurry.

I don’t think anyone suggested it was all that dangerous to use bare conductors for buss and feeders on a DCC system, just that it is unwise to do so. I think using household knob and tube wiring as an example to justify your DCC wiring practices confused the issue somewhat.

All that matters is that the OP and others know that using insulated conductors and insulating splices and taps is good wiring practice on the layout and furthermore, that when advice on household wiring is needed, talk to a qualified electrician in person before taking advice from anyone on a MRR forum.