Another oily cutout thread

[Vicario]

I've mentioned this several times over the years and once again it's hot outside and my cutout has started to ooze oil. Nothing feels unusually hot and the electrics work well. It's a new cutout (2022) installed by UKPN engineers (100A). Before we went on holiday I put a small plastic tray underneath and this is what I found after 8 days - house electrics just ticking over all week. The engineers who removed my ancient cutout said that it is below pavement level and the oil flows naturally with gravity.
Just checking in with you guys really that it's still OK. (I did report it to the DNO ages ago and the lady said that unless there was unusual heat around the area, it's a case of just keep a watch and no problem, so do you all agree?)

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

(I did report it to the DNO ages ago and the lady said that unless there was unusual heat around the area, it's a case of just keep a watch and no problem, so do you all agree?)

Yes, absolutely - it's just oil from the cable, finding its way out from the old, paper insulated cables.

 

[morqthana]

https://www.diynot.com/diy/attachments/cutout-oil-jpg.387904/

Chinese or Indian?

 

[Guitarguy]

I’m my opinion, it probably hasn’t been made off correctly using a heat shrink turret which would seal the end of the cable and prevent this from happening. I have changed many cutouts over the years and oil usually leaks out like this when the property is lower than the main in the road and gravity causes oil to push out. It is not dangerous just messy

 

[Vicario]

Thanks, everyone. You've confirmed what I had already been told a few years ago but I thought I'd double check with the experts on here once again. Is there a limit to the amount of oil in these cables? This happens every year when it's hot and the part of the road going up from my house is about 100m so the oil is coming down the slope in the street and then down to my property, which is below pavement level by about 20cm at the cutout, I reckon.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You've confirmed what I had already been told a few years ago but I thought I'd double check with the experts on here once again. Is there a limit to the amount of oil in these cables?

Of course there is a limit, the limit is the amount of oil in the cable. The oil, is there to keep the moisture out. Usually, the cable ends are terminated in cast-iron shell, filled with pitch. Even the pitch can soften and escape.

 

[SUNRAY]

Of course there is a limit, the limit is the amount of oil in the cable. The oil, is there to keep the moisture out. Usually, the cable ends are terminated in cast-iron shell, filled with pitch. Even the pitch can soften and escape.

Pitch softens with some oils...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Pitch softens with some oils...

I think the oil in the cables, is a mineral oil, does that soften pitch? I have often seen the pitch, oozing out of cast-iron shell, which like a poorly sealed clam-shell,