How to join two 4mm SWA cables?

@JohnW2 yes, I would agree for something as serious as a medical accident. But, for my own case, there's no harm done (hopefully!) and it will be a relatively (dirty, cold, wet) simple task to repair.

uptown47 said:

@JohnW2 yes, I would agree for something as serious as a medical accident. But, for my own case, there's no harm done (hopefully!) and it will be a relatively (dirty, cold, wet) simple task to repair.

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I'm not sure about your "but" - perhaps I was not clear enough since I was actually agreeing with you that, even with medical accidents/mistakes, making claims against insurance is only really appropriate (since that's what the insurance is for) when, regardless of issues of 'blame/liability', there are massive financial implications of the accident/mistake.

In other cases (when there is no major financial consequence), like yours, sensible people accept that "accidents and mistakes happen", that no-one needs to be hanged or penalised (financially or whatever) as a result and that such is just a fact of life.

Kind Regards, John

Did you point out to the gardener that there was an underground cable where the work was being done?

Vicario said:

Did you point out to the gardener that there was an underground cable where the work was being done?

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Yes, but it wasn't 'on the day' of him starting. He'd visited a couple of weeks prior and I'd shown him the cable runs then.

In fairness, there was a big black junction box on the fence directly in line with where he stuck the spike! (and only about 3 feet away )

However, that's it all sorted now... I took a few pics of the repair and damage for future reference....

Looks good. What's the recommended depth these days? I wonder how many cables like that one originate from CUs with no RCD protection. I know of a greenhouse that's warmed on very cold nights by an extension lead threaded through an airbrick. Not mine I hasten to add but probably OK if the socket is on a protected circuit (not too sure about that though). It's just next to the house so 3 metres max and he does cover it with a small tarp.

Vicario said:

Looks good. What's the recommended depth these days? I wonder how many cables like that one originate from CUs with no RCD protection. I know of a greenhouse that's warmed on very cold nights by an extension lead threaded through an airbrick. Not mine I hasten to add but probably OK if the socket is on a protected circuit (not too sure about that though). It's just next to the house so 3 metres max and he does cover it with a small tarp.

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Not sure of the 'recommended' depth but this will be around the 500mm mark (which always used to be the depth back in the day). It'll be under porcelain slabs and has "Caution" tape a bit above it (and tied to the cable itself just for belts and braces) so that will be safe enough in my humble (in fact on the photo of the break you can *just* see a bit of the Caution tape at the top middle. It is feeding a summerhouse (pub!!) and is protected by an RCD (which is what alerted me to the cable being mushed in the first place).

The 'extension lead' idea you describe doesn't sound like a very safe solution! The point of entry in the air brick will be a potential pinch point that any impact would easily damage the insulation and expose a 'live' core potentially. Also, it'll be high current if it's feeding a heater. Might be worth just having a quiet word with your neighbour (if you have a good relationship) to mention the risks. You can do it subtly with something like "I'd be careful with that setup mate, I knew a guy got an electric shock with a set up like that. Why don't you do xyz instead.?) ?

The heater is one of those 1KW greenhouse ones which just keep frost at bay. To be honest he's got so much plastic insulation in there I doubt he needs it. He starts his tomato seeds in February and is still picking in November. He definitely has a modern CU with RCDs and keeps saying that he'll do it properly sometime soon.

Vicario said:

The heater is one of those 1KW greenhouse ones which just keep frost at bay. To be honest he's got so much plastic insulation in there I doubt he needs it. He starts his tomato seeds in February and is still picking in November. He definitely has a modern CU with RCDs and keeps saying that he'll do it properly sometime soon.

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No worries. I suppose it's all just about whatever risk the person is willing to take. I've got grand-children that visit regularly and enjoy playing at the back so, although I'm just a 'diy-er', I'm paranoid about making everything as safe as possible.