Unknown Cable or Pipe

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This was when a live cable was damaged, eventually the 400 Amp fuse supplying the area would have ruptured and cut power to many houses.

Had that workman been in a trench and unable to escape then he would have suffered very severe burns, possibly fatal.
 
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Sorry, to clarify

the box on the wall at the yellow dot was just that, an empty box. i removed it along with the wall, no cables in sight, just thinking it could have been the destination for this cable at some time?

on that basis, i have no way to access the ends of this cable known to me, so i cant put my multimeter on them - would a clamp meter show if the cable was live?- i need to test it with only access to what you can see on the pictures.

thanks
 
Sorry, to clarify

the box on the wall at the yellow dot was just that, an empty box. i removed it along with the wall, no cables in sight, just thinking it could have been the destination for this cable at some time?

on that basis, i have no way to access the ends of this cable known to me, so i cant put my multimeter on them - would a clamp meter show if the cable was live?- i need to test it with only access to what you can see on the pictures.

thanks

it is a network cable, not a consumer cable, so you have no business tinkering with it.

contact the owners.
 

I hope you are not suggesting testing it with a volt stick type tester? If it is the main feed to the house it will be armoured cable and a volt stick will suggest it is dead anyway - and it does look like an armoured cable. As for the suggestion to chop through it, then supposing the OP survives that he will be presented with a very substantial bill for the repair.

The OP should call his DNO, say he has found what is probably his supply cable and it appears to be damaged, would they please come and check it.
 
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A clamp meter would not provide any reliable ( safe to believe ) results.

The DNO will have instruments that can reliably test suspect cable. But even if the result is "dead" they will still use full protective clothing and mask in case it is a Live cable.
 
is it possible to tell if the cable IS live (without killing myself or cutting it)

There is no way you can safely find out, without your working out where it goes or asking your DNO - please ignore the previous extremely foolish and dangerous advice, that cable, if live - has potential to kill you!

Assuming its no longer used, i can just pour concrete on top?
If it were to be live, can i protect it and pour concrete on top (perhaps a duct around it?)

IF, IF your DNO confirms it is a dead and disused cable you can then pretty well do what you like. Ideally chop it out completely - covered over with cement or concrete, the rust will expand and blow them. If it is live, best ask for advice from the DNO as to what you can safely do, assuming they don't replace the cable.
 
Call the DNO, it will be the supply cable to the house and is most likely live. That time of cable was used up until around 1971 when concentric took over.

It will most likely need diverting into a new meter position as if built over could present a massive headache if it faults as it would then be under the house with no way of getting a new cable in to replace it- i.e you’d be stuffed.
 
Who is the DNO? - Western power distribution? (we are west midlands). does anyone know if they are going to charge to come take a look?

I doubt very much its my current live supply cable, why would that run from the road, past the meter box on the front of the house, down the side of the house, under the foundations of the original rear outbuildings, and then back to the front of the house, apparently routing UNDER the house - even so, i want to get it checked to be sure

thanks all
 
Who is the DNO? - Western power distribution? (we are west midlands). does anyone know if they are going to charge to come take a look?

I doubt very much its my current live supply cable, why would that run from the road, past the meter box on the front of the house, down the side of the house, under the foundations of the original rear outbuildings, and then back to the front of the house, apparently routing UNDER the house - even so, i want to get it checked to be sure

thanks all

Take a look at your utility bill, at the bottom it will give you an emergency phone number and perhaps the name of the DNO. Ring them, explain the situation that you have concerns about what might possibly be a live main supply cable within your property, which you have come across - would there be a charge for them to take a look and advise. The answer will almost certainly be no charge to look/check it out.

Here, the number is 105. There will certainly be no charge for ringing and asking.
 
When my mum was digging in the garden, and found what turned out to be the main supply cable to the house, the DNO came out and mile drilled a new one in for free.

The old one was only 6 inches down!
 
called DNO, they were going to come out, the engineer called, confirmed that only one supply was EVER installed at the house, and its in the front. so its definitely not the supply cable, nor ever was.

he suggested its an old private cable....

back to the drawing board!
 

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