Relay Switch 1950's Burnt!

Bubbles

Had troubleshoot call 2 days ago. 1950's home One bathroom just went out says homeowner. Started with usually culprits and started working down the list. Well..after about an hour I knew this wasnt going to be quick one...took off to other jobs and went back next morning with the chief (dad). We lost a feed between breaker and sink light box(thats where old romex was). Finished ceilings, no access to attic above bath. I went up in attic to find a way to get above bath and low and behold an old relay box with no cover and wires looked like some sort of spider web formation. Right away I smelled burnt rubber. The whole house was booby trapped. Every box you open (1/2 didnt even have junc boxes) wires fell right out of wire nut barely twisted. So had to repair ALL (7) ones I found burnt. Finally, hidden behind the spiders lair was a load conductor burnt off at the junction of the relay. We bypassed it and shazamm. Turns out they are 15amp rated controling whole house lighting and some receptacles? A heater in the bath exhaust was the main culprit we were thinking (1800 watts heater only) plus everything else on that circuit. BTW it was on a 20 amp breaker. this wasnt even a big house or nice house. We usually only see these from affluent areas in town from the 50'/60's mostly.

Question o' day
Has anyone replaced these old touchplate systems keypads,transverters, and all. Some guys I talk to say just replace that system and the other 1/2 rewire the house considering all the other jury rigged things I saw. Seems to be 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of rewiring a house from what I can see everything considered. Of course, the numbers will make the decision.

mdshunk

Yes, the GE low voltage switching systems are still being installed to this day. I work on them pretty regularly. They're not really that difficult to service, technically, but the relay panels are often a mess. The relays are made by GE, and they are part number RR-7 or RR-9, depending on whether they have the aux pilot contact. Touchplate is still in business too. You can still buy all that stuff, and like I say, it's still being installed to this very day.

james8199

I've done a bunch of these, and usually remove the entire system. Most of the ones I've done the relay panels were fires waiting to happen and HO's wanted them replaced anyways.

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Magnettica

I've come across a system like this once a long time ago. If it was an older system I'd look to eliminate it and rewire. I know there are some good new systems out there but I haven't enough experience working with them to actually sell any of them. The one I'm thinking of comes in a blue box, maybe Leviton?

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220/221

At least my last one wasn't in the attic. Touchplate system circa 1960.

I always recommend just yanking them and dropping line voltage sw legs.

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Just because it's within code doesn't make it safe.

Just because it's against code doesn't make it unsafe.

Bubbles

Nice pic. I wish I had my camera. The one I was on was 6inchx20in with 20 old romex going in with sometimes 4-6 conductors under wire nuts half falling off. I think every rec,fixture,switch, we looked at trying to find problem had very loose connections as well. Probably better suggest a rewire considering previous mess. Thanks for tips..

Dustball

Related thread I started-

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...ltage+lighting

Bubbles

Thanks dustball. Nice thread. I'm more worried about something else in house catching fire if we just redo the LV system so in this situation I think I will suggest some ideas you had in that thread.

Once again nice thread

Gruff

So, I'm moving into a home that has this ancient low voltage system, with the horizontal rocker switches - many of them are broke or don't turn on the device. Is there somewhere on-line that I can purchase these? Common sense would dictate a professional electrician check the entire system. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

mdshunk

Any electrical supply house should be able to get these from GE for you.