Cable Type

[rolyberkin]

Sorry bad pic, anyone recognise the black cable type in the top right hand corner of this photo?

Not a clear enough pic to zoom in.

View attachment 35942

 

[Leesparkykent]

vulcanised India rubber...Basically game over when you come across that carp.

 

[rolyberkin]

Thanks, thought so, so likely to fall apart when touched!

 

[Leesparkykent]

Thanks, thought so, so likely to fall apart when touched!

Yeah most likely.

 

[Octopus]

Rewire alert......

 

[PEG]

As mentioned,possibilities of issues are many...but inspection and testing of said circuits should not be discounted.
I have encountered, VIR that neither fell apart,nor failed testing,and in such a circumstance,replacement would be recommended on the basis of unknown service-life expectancy.

Or,sometimes,just shaking your head,whilst the customer looks on,and saying "This is older than me mum..." can do the trick

 

[davesparks]

That's not VIR, it's a TRS (tough rubber sheath) twin or twin and earth cable, it is made of a natural rubber and used in the 1950/60's era. It will now be past it's service life and due for replacement.


VIR is, or was only ever used to describe, the single core cables similar to the singles used in conduit installations today.

 

[Pete999]

TRS tough rubber sheathed

 

[Dave the spark]

vulcanised India rubber...Basically game over when you come across that carp.

Definitely something fishy about it...

 

[PEG]

The cables with a title of "tough rubber sheathed",can still have a composition of vulcanised india rubber,in the sheath or insulation. It depends on the age of the cable.

Modern TRS cables,such as produced by Doncaster cables,use a cross linked elastomeric compound,in the sheath,but confusingly,use a product description,of "VR insulated tough rubber sheathed" for their current stock.

If anyone has two drums of the original stuff,one scrap,and one untouched....it'll be Lucien

 

[Andy78]

The cables with a title of "tough rubber sheathed",can still have a composition of vulcanised india rubber,in the sheath or insulation. It depends on the age of the cable.

Modern TRS cables,such as produced by Doncaster cables,use a cross linked elastomeric compound,in the sheath,but confusingly,use a product description,of "VR insulated tough rubber sheathed" for their current stock.

If anyone has two drums of the original stuff,one scrap,and one untouched....it'll be Lucien

Interesting. The insulation in the black rubber sheathed looks very similar to that of the waxed cloth covered singles when I have encountered them both before. Thankfully not seen much of either still in service.

 

[rolyberkin]

The customer is a mate who is planning to sell the house so a rewire is not really on the cards for him, I have told him that it needs a full rewire, new consumer unit etc and that as and when he sells it this will probably be picked up on a survey. It is a TT and has no upfront RCD so fairly crap all round, the question is does he want to spend the money or reduce the price if picked up or leave it to the next occupant. The interesting thing is a local ELECSA installer recently did some work for a new kitchen by putting a 10mm feed to a small consumer unit with a stand alone RCD for that cable only, they put in a new earth rod and used a bonding strap to fix it leaving it about 8" out of the ground and not in an earth pit, a right dogs dinner!