I own a home that was built in the 1960s in Hawaii. The home is of Traditional Japanese construction (all wood framing, flooring, w/plaster) from Japan. The wiring throughout is a black clad two conductor wiring (no ground) that I want to get rid of.
In addition to the age and composition of the wire, is the fact that the circuits are laid out in one of the most haphazard fashions that I have seen, and makes no real sense to me. Each wire from the breaker panel goes to a junction box, from which as many as 10 other wires sprout going to individual sockets, switches and lighting circuits, causing a large bundle of wire to be routed through a beam and into the wall cavity (see photo album).
I want to tear all of this wiring (and sockets, and breaker box) out and replace with newer material that is properly grounded. As a first step, I wanted to ask about circuit layout. Are residential circuits typically laid out in a by-room basis? For example a circuit for Living Room, a circuit for Master Bedroom, etc, or are they further divided by use? For example Kitchen Lighting, Kitchen Plugs, Living Room Lighting, Living Room Plugs?
I am doing this somewhat on the cheap, and I intend to have it permitted and inspected, but in an attempt to get something started on it, I wanted to at least conceptualize the circuit layout and scope of work.