Farm house (100 y/o) renovation - DIY electrical?

[insomniYAK]

Bought an old farmhouse out in the county and am planning my first winter renovation project. I understand that it had been modernized a couple of times: 20's, 50's and late 70's.

Electrical history: evidence of knob and tube. From the service pole, I have numerous branches - one to house, barn and three additional outbuildings with all currently having service. The outbuildings each have at least one fuse panel but this will be another project. In the house, I currently have a 100A fuse box in the basement and about eight circuits servicing a two story plus an unfinished basement. Most, but not all, outlets are ungrounded and no GFCI. Cicuits typically service entire areas of the house. For example, one 20A circuit services four rooms upstairs each with basically one light and 2 outlets in each room.

My objective is to bring it up to at least minimum code to include:

A 200A circuit breaker main panel in basement

GFCI protection where approriate

Approriate number of outlets within each room and splt across balanced across more than one circuit

Wall switches immediately inside the room doors with seperate controls for the celing fan and light. Note that we have some upstairs rooms where the light switch is well within the room. Other rooms and closets have no light switch at all and you pull a string for the light.

Dedicated appliance outlets where approriate

Dedicated TV/Multiimedia outlets where approriate

While pulling romex, I intent to pull data, voice and TV cable as well.

I would like to contract with someone (architect, electrician, etc.) to develop an electrical plan with the intent that I will pull all the cable and attach outlets, switch and light fixtures. A certified electrician will inspect my work, install the new panel and migrate from old to new.

Anybody done anything like this and care to share their insight and experoence?

Thanks...

[chunkytrout]

You have your work cut out for you! First off, have an electrician pull a permit for the new service and have he/she install it. Better to start from scratch with new. Sounds like your SE may have some issues so it's better to have someone qualified to do that work. That service will need to be inspected by the state. While the inspector is there, tell him what you intend to do. Pick his brain a bit. Next get a couple of good DIY electrical books, NEC 05 handbook, and start studying. Pull your homeowners permit. When you're ready you'll have a nice new service to start from.