Well, don't you think you ought to check, before getting all wound up wanting to move the socket to compensate?
Well, don't you think you ought to check, before getting all wound up wanting to move the socket to compensate?
Do you mean the copper of the neutral (which has/had blue, conceivably black, insulation) OR the bare copper 'earth' wire?
Brilliant thanks. I will turn the B32 RCBO off, test the wire using a voltage tester then see if the wire is actually nicked (exposed copper) if the sheath is cut but the live/earth/neutral wires are not then I'll tape over it. If the live/earth/neutral is cut I will then relocate the socket down 8cm. That way no extra joint
Probably the neutral copper as I can see (bear in mind the cut is literally 4mm across and less than 1 mm deep) a bit of blue. It's a tiny cut literally a glancing cut from a multi cutter not a full 'go through'
That's what I'm doing 1st thing tomorrow, and if there's no exposed copper I'll wrap tape around it and leave alone
OK. If it's not 'fully through' the blue insulation, you wouldn't be able to see any copper of the neutral.
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Pictures would help us understand the situation.
Image (2) is the 2.5mm2 cable nick turns out it was only through the outer sheath and did not go through the inner sheath no sign of exposed copper.
Pic (filename ending ..535) I decided to wrap electrical tape around the cable, then put waterproof tape over that and then use cable ties to make sure it stays on
Image (8) is final and shows the partition wall filled with mineral wool with cables at 50% depth
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All I can say to that, is good grief! Well and truly, well over the top, for a tiny nick to the outer. At the most, a single layer serving, over the top, would have been perfectly adequate.
You originally reported 'a' cable nicked, your photos suggest you have in fact repaired two cables - why?
Well the property has enough problems without adding risk of electric fires to it.
The other cable had a fraction of of a mm shaved off about 1cm2 of the sheath on 1 side (didn't even go through the outer sheath) which is actually really hard to see except without being right up close. I decided to 'belt and brace' to make sure.
For next time:
Read the instructions.
Read the instructions.
Adding that amount of thermal insulation, is marginally adding to the risk of fire, rather than reducing it. Cables rely upon a cooling air flow, to help dispose of their internal heat.
The sheath, is the outer protection from mechanical damage, usually grey. The insulation, is the brown/black/red/blue, beneath the sheath. Damage to the outer sheath, is of much less consequence, than damage to the insulation of a cable.
Do mice/rats eat through electrical tape and waterproofing tape? I saw some partially chewed cables (in a different property years ago) due to rat damage
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