Advice needed on mains power supply

[Paul K]

Hi

On my last post about my hot tub supply it was noted that my supply was looped. Since then a National Grid subcontractor has come and carried out the work. They dug the cable out then a couple of days later did the work then the hole has been refilled and put right. After the electrical work was done I had a look and the cable looked dodgy (see photos)I raised this concern with the contractors and they put it right. They said the black marks on the cable was bitumen? and it had got there from a hammer??

I raised this with National Grid who also agreed this could be bitumen. I don't know why they'd use a hammer or where the bitumen would come from? It sounds like they're covering each others arses because I think the cable looks damaged and even split in one part.

Just wondered what you all thought?

 

[Brother Blue]

Yes it is likely to be bitumen as the old cutouts were filled with a bitumen insulating and sealing compound which is messy and gets on all your tools and everything else when working with it.

 

[Paul K]

Yes it is likely to be bitumen as the old cutouts were filled with a bitumen insulating and sealing compound which is messy and gets on all your tools and everything else when working with it.

What do you think of the connection that joins the grey box?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Without doubt the insulation has been compromised, send them the Photograph and ask how Bitumen would split the insulation, looking at the Phase cable radius, I think they may have run out of length to do it properly.

 

[Paul K]

Without doubt the insulation has been compromised, send them the Photograph and ask how Bitumen would split the insulation, looking at the Phase cable radius, I think they may have run out of length to do it properly.

I know nothing about electrical cables etc. what’s the phase cable? The one picture looks like it has a slight Knick in it and the other photo looks like two separate wires joined.

I sent the contractor and national grid the photos. The jointer was the one who said it was bitumen and got there off a hammer?

I was going to take this further as in involve HSE as they both say it’s bitumen but it doesn’t look like it to me. The cable looks damaged and split at the one end.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Phase is the red cable, it should be double insulated and looks as though the first layer of insulation has been cut back and the cutting has nicked the second layer of insulation, also further up the red cable looks compromised on the surface of the outer insulation.

 

[westward10]

I agree that is damaged.