Need some advice on this cable repair

[Chriz1]

Hi guys
We've just bought a house and having a few nightmares at the moment boiler packed up amongst other things ..and were having a new heating system installed..
The plumber lifted a few floor boards upstairs and spotted this repair..

It looks like someone or something rat droppings present under floorboards has damaged the cable at some point and patched in a repair using these chock blocks for each wire l n earth. I guess the cable was to tight to be able to use one set of blocks.

Question is is that safe? Looks like it supply downstairs sockets .
If not what's best way to repair it ?!

 

[Highresdis]

Hi Chriz.
No, it's not right to leave exposed connections like that. In addition whoever has effected this repair seems to have joined the old 2.5mm cable with 3core and earth 1.5mm cable, which isn't likely to be suitable for the socket circuit.
Given its location is going to be inaccessible under the floor when you've finished the work, this needs to be replaced with two maintenance-free type junction boxes, using the correct cable. Not a big job for an electrician, which I'd recommend, as making the junctions maintenance-free isn't straightforward for an DIYer.
All the best.

 

[ferg]

That is pretty Shyte as far as cable repairs go.

If possible replace the entire length of cable.

If not then MF boxes and connectors.

If you are worried about rodent damage get a test and inspection done by a competent spark

 

[Silly Sausage]

If you are worried about rodent damage get a ....

Cat

 

[buzzlightyear]

Thats what i call end to end cabling
Is it safe , it was lucky the wet pants showed to you ,they normally burn the cables with out telling you , whats that smell of plastic in the morning ,its like some thing from a Vietnam film .

 

[Baddegg]

That’s a special kind of wetpants to even spot that, that’s normally how they leave em!

 

[Chriz1]

Thank you all, would this be something I can repair myself if I bought a junction box? If so which box would you suggest ?
Thank you

 

[Pete999]

Thank you all, would this be something I can repair myself if I bought a junction box? If so which box would you suggest ?
Thank you

The best option would be to replace the cable, if joint boxes are the option then they will need to be "Maintenance Free"
Whatever you decide then get an Electrician to do the work and test afterwards, you know it's the right thing to do.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Id get a spark in mate, get him to do this small job and whilst your taking your house apart for the heating get him to do a condition report to make sure there is no other dodgy joints or cables hanging around. Dont go with the cheapest on condition reports though if you can help it.

 

[Chriz1]

Ok thanks guys makes sense
Thanks for Your help

 

[The Ghost]

Normally an EICR has a disclaimer in that cables under floorboards and in walls will not be inspected. So you won't really know if there are further problems like that. Unless you have all the floorboards up right now and prepared to pay for all the other ones to be lifted. Testing would not show up that repair if I can call it that!

 

[Chriz1]

Ok cheers I spoke to someone on the phone he suggested a chock box using correct gauge cable I sent him a pic does that sound right he did say you should run the whole new cable, but that's obviously a lot more cost

 

[GeorgeCooke]

Hi Chriz.
No, it's not right to leave exposed connections like that. In addition whoever has effected this repair seems to have joined the old 2.5mm cable with 3core and earth 1.5mm cable, which isn't likely to be suitable for the socket circuit.

It looks like old 7/029 cable joined with 2.5mm to me. An alternative to junction boxes would be soldering and then covered with self amalgamating tape.

 

[westward10]

Ok cheers I spoke to someone on the phone he suggested a chock box using correct gauge cable I sent him a pic does that sound right he did say you should run the whole new cable, but that's obviously a lot more cost

I would not recommend a Choc Box as they are not deemed maintenance free which would be required for a joint which is considered inaccessible.

 

[Strima]

By the time you've gone out and bought maint free boxes, connectors and cable it would cost the same as getting an electrician in to repair it correctly.

Anyone who recommends repairing this with choc blocks needs to be struck off the Xmas card list immediately. Choc blocks are screw connections, due to thermic cycling they work loose over time causing overheating and eventually fires.

 

[Risteard]

It looks like old 7/029 cable joined with 2.5mm to me. An alternative to junction boxes would be soldering and then covered with self amalgamating tape.

It's definitely three core and Earth. There are brown and black live conductors in the photo.

 

[davesparks]

It looks like old 7/029 cable joined with 2.5mm to me. An alternative to junction boxes would be soldering and then covered with self amalgamating tape.

It is unlikely to be 2.5mm as it is three core and earth with the grey chopped out, at best it will be 1.5mm

 

[davesparks]

It looks like old 7/029 cable joined with 2.5mm to me. An alternative to junction boxes would be soldering and then covered with self amalgamating tape.

It is unlikely to be 2.5mm as it is three core and earth with the grey chopped out, at best it will be 1.5mm

 

[DefyG]

If it is vermin damage, I doubt that is the only bit of damaged cable but unless you lift lots of floor boards you may never know unless it shows up as some strange test results on an EICR!

 

[telectrix]

wait till you hear the sounds of chewing then energise circuit/s. ratatouille tomorrow. part cooked.