This is a 100+ year old house and we have some really ancient wiring.

I think the whole house is ran off 2 circuits that are 30 amps each. Using 2 - 15 amp glass fuses. The round kind that screw in.

On the powerboard there is the main 60 amp box, a main power switch and something called a Water Heater Control Unit.

Its another 60 amp box with 2 - 30 amp circuits using 2 - 15 amp glass fuses per circuit.

But it has no fuses in it and the breakers are turned off.


This is 2 free circuits yes ?


There is power from coming in at the top of the box a white and a black wire. They are screwed into one of the fuse / breakers. And today I tested it with a simple Probe that lights up if it has power. It light up when I probed it.

Nothing else is connected to this extra box on my power board.

Iam guessing by the name of it that it is an old electric hot water heater circuit that was abandoned when the house was upgraded with a gas one. The house has gas heated water right now.


So if its an old hot water heater circuit is there a chance that it is 220 ? How can I tell what it is ?

I don't have any 220 anywhere in the house our garage Everything is 110.

Sometimes during summer when we have air conditioners, pc's and other normal stuff running the fuse gets blown.

It would be nice to spread out some of the load with this other breaker box.


And if this is a 60 amp box with 2 circuits does that mean I would need to use #10 wire for running a power line ?

It's probably time to upgrade. You can post pictures directly using the "GO Advanced" tab.

What I can tell you is that there was a time when the water heater was metered separately. That panel may not be live.

Best advice: Post a pic.

Well It lit up with the test prob when I touched it to the black and white wire so I know its live.

And it only makes sense that it would be independent from the main box but I doubt its not metered.

I will have to borrow a camera to get pix

Be sure to take a picture of both the panels inside and the metering that may be outside.

If this was metered separately, the meter itself would be gone. The utility company would not have jumped it out. No way they would let free power through!

But the confusing thing is you have power at the water heater section.

Someone could have jumped out the meter, causing the water heater section to be live, by mistake...

If this is the case, then this is not usable. I could not recommend that free power be taken from a utility.

Before you move onto adding anything to this service, really need to help you determine exactly what you have.

Not just because of the metering question, but if this is what I think it is, this service is old enough to have been installed by Thomas Edison himself.

While there is nothing in the current code to cause you to upgrade, I can tell you that your insurance carrier will require and upgrade if they find out it exists.

And since you will be adding new wiring and load to the service, you may need a permit from the local inspector for the new work, and it is very possible he will require an upgrade.

Hopefully you can get access to a digital camera. If you need help with attaching photos here, let us know.