Electrical Panel

sound right. you want to run more power through old lines. replacing a panel from fuses to breakers will require a permit for sure.

Thanks but is it necessary to rewire the entire apartment besides the kitchen part?

You should get a second opinion/estimate from another electrician. But I would guess that you will have to rewire the entire apartment based on your post. You will certainly need permits.

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/28603-replacing-old-fuse-boxes

Keith Burkhardt
The Burkhardt Group

One good thing is that you can probably move the panel to a more discreate location. Many of the old apts have the panel in a location like right in front of you when you enter the apt.

One thing you need be aware of is that faulty wiring can burn the mother down.

I have one contractor says I need to rewire the whole thing and the other contractor says I don't have to. He also said it is not required to file to the city. It's a Coop building so all the renovation will be approved by the management. If the management doesn't require that, does that mean I am ok?

@seahawk- Sure it has to be approved by the co-op, which will require you to use licensed/insured contractors and file permits when necessary. I am not an electrician but I can assure you that rewiring/change from fuses to breakers will require a licensed electrician and permits will have to be pulled/work will be inspected by a city building/electrical inspector.

Tip: Ask the buildings super for a electrician referral. Also discuss what you want to do with the super, I am sure others have done the same and he/she will be able to give you some useful insight.

Happy New Year!

Keith Burkhardt

Sea,
If you are not renovating the entire apt. then you may not be required to do a full re-wiring.That comment about the old wiring being too short is off the mark;the old fusebox becomes a blanked-out splice box and the electrician runs new cable to the new breaker panel.Lastly,I would check that whoever you plan to use for this job has a valid electricians license in N.Y.C.;the co-op cannot in any way exempt this work from being filed with the Dept. of Buildings.Any new breaker panel and/or service work must be filed and it is in your best interest to do so. good luck.

Thanks for all your comment. Is it my responsibility to file the electrical permit? What if I use the licensed electrician and he chose not to file the permit?

I would like to know if I am violating the law for not making my contractor to file the permit.

Then, I would say, you are using a shady (although licensed) electrician.

if the permit is needed, you should file it. this protects you in case the electrician tried to do a few shortcuts. the new rules that came out in 2008 are rather stringent.

"One good thing is that you can probably move the panel to a more discreate location."

Not necessarily.

Check the code.

I believe NYC likes to have the electric boxes as close to the main entry as possible for quick location during emergencies.

For this same reason, it's also technically illegal to paint your electric panel any other color than the gunmetal grey, or to hide it behind a piece of furniture or wall covering.

Just for my benefit, when the whole apt has to be rewired, does that mean the whole place has to be gutted? Wouldn't that cost a substantially amount?

Pretty much yes and yes.

How do I know if I should rewire the entire apartment or not? Somebody told me yes and somebody told me no. The electrical permit is not filed by the homeowner but by the electrician correct? What if he didn't do that?

If you're doing ANY electrical upgrades, particularly changing from fuses to circuit breakers, you're going to need to rewire the entire apartment to get it up to code. Period.

"Period."

No, it seems to be every week of the month. It's probably just your disposition, or moral turpitude.

Could you please tell me where in the electrical code has stated that I have to rewire the entire apartment?

from dealing with the electricians recently, there's a statement that if 25% or more of walls in any room are being taken down, you need to run all new electric in that room.

actually it's daily (or nearly so) and very intense

That means if I am not taken down any walls, I don't have to run all new electric in that room.

SeaHawk, just curious, any updates on this issue? Were you able to determine the scope of work involved and a cost estimate from an electrician?