Can I DIY a chewed cable?

[Jurassicspark]

This did not result in an RCD tripping (circuit remained energised), but there were no rodent skeletal remains in the vicinity ..

I guess the load was very low thus causing the rcd not to trip. Hate these faults, pain ITA tracking intermittent faults like this down.

 

[JohnW2]

Point taken but equally the OP knows relatively little about the competence of those telling him to give up. Its a forum not an exam syllabus

Sure, but that's not the point.

 

[JohnW2]

I guess the load was very low thus causing the rcd not to trip.

Maybe. The RCD was certainly working fine when tested.

Hate these faults, pain ITA tracking intermittent faults like this down.

... and that's if one knows that there IS a 'fault'. What I illustrated was found purely by accident when a floorboard was lifted. The circuit had been continuing to work fine, and there was nothing to suggest that there was anything wrong - and (as one might expect from the photo) the circuit IRd perfectly fine with that 'fault' present!

 

[Jurassicspark]

) the circuit IRd perfectly fine with that 'fault' present!

Splash a bit of water on it and test again.

 

[JohnW2]

Splash a bit of water on it and test again.

Indeed - but, where it was, no water was ever going to get splashed on it - so, had I not stumbled across the damage, I would never have been aware of the problem, even if I had 'fully tested' the circuit.

 

[SUNRAY]

Indeed - but, where it was, no water was ever going to get splashed on it - so, had I not stumbled across the damage, I would never have been aware of the problem, even if I had 'fully tested' the circuit.

I only found mine when I switched a light on and the circuit tripped, assuming it was a blown bulb I replaced it but still tripped. In the loft I found about 4ft of the switch drop stripped bare on the top and eventually the bare copper (3/0.029“) had popped out of the PVC remains. I spent half a day looking and making repairs to the other bits which had been chewed.

If it had not chosen Christmas Eve to 'pop out' I could have easily had a nasty surprise when putting Christmas decs away later.

While at it I took the oportunity to do away with the borrowed neutral and resplit my lighting circuits.

 

[mikeyd]

I think OP is having a laugh.

I presume I need to buy some electrician rubber gloves for safety too?

If not..
@Jon12345 : Electricians don't wear rubber gloves. They turn the power off and test it is safe before doing anything else.

The fuse gives a big spark out in the fuse box downstairs when I replace the fuse.

Then please don't do that again.

As others have said, no YOU cannot DIY it based on what you have said.

 

[JohnW2]

I think OP is having a laugh. If not..
@Jon12345 : Electricians don't wear rubber gloves. They turn the power off and test it is safe before doing anything else.

Indeed they do (and, hopefully, so do non-electricians when they are doing electrical work) - but I suppose that for those who are ultra-cautious and believe in "a belt plus several sets of braces", adding rubber gloved to the melting pot would not be out of the question

As others have said, no YOU cannot DIY it based on what you have said.

Yes, in this case I agee.

 

[mikeyd]

a valid message.

 

[Jon12345]

What have I said that suggests I cannot DIY?

 

[pcaouolte]

I have no idea about the regulations and that sort of thing. I can YouTube it easily enough for the method. I presume I need to buy some electrician rubber gloves for safety too?

You have stated that you have no idea about the regulations. You intend to buy some rubber gloves for safety, PPE is an absolute last resort for safety. You haven't indicated that you know how to isolate this circuit and test that it is safe before you start work. You haven't indicated that you have any equipment that would allow you to test the cable for safe isolation before you begin work.

I do not know . It is just a wire in the attic

You don't know what the wire is for, so we don't know if your proposed method of repair is safe.

The fuse gives a big spark out in the fuse box downstairs when I replace the fuse. I am not sure if it is related to that wire or somewhere else.

Your fuse gives a big spark which indicates a major fault, you don't know why. Have you cleaned the residue that this spark will have created, from the fuse carrier? The fact that a fuse exists indicates an old electrical system which will lack modern safety features.

This repair could go seriously wrong and cause a fire, or cause you to seriously injure or even kill yourself or someone else. This isn't a good first electrical project if you are just beginning DIY electrical work.

 

[Jon12345]

My understanding is that you turn the power off, use a non-contact tester to see if the wires are live and rubber gloves just as extra insurance. Or have I missed something?

Yes, it is an old electrical system. The house was built in 1907. The fuses are very old fashioned, where I have to buy fuse wire and put that in them.

I agree with you in that I am leaning to get someone in to do it. I do not know if the chewed wire is causing the fault or not.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Yes, it is an old electrical system. The house was built in 1907. The fuses are very old fashioned, where I have to buy fuse wire and put that in them.

I agree with you in that I am leaning to get someone in to do it. I do not know if the chewed wire is causing the fault or not.

With the electrician in, you can always get an EICR done, that will tell you what needs ripping out.

 

[hllns]

My understanding is that you turn the power off, use a non-contact tester to see if the wires are live and rubber gloves just as extra insurance. Or have I missed something?

Non-contact testers are not a 100% reliable way to test for dead, if you can trace where the cable goes to/from such as a ceiling rose or junction box you can use a 2 pole tester to check it, I'd just turn off the isolator to turn off everything, especially if it's unclear.

 

[hllns]

Unless you can prove it isn't live you really shouldn't touch anything.