Lead Singles Cable

[SimonH2]

From my limited knowledge of that cable - some first hand, some second hand - I'd say ...
It's known to be a very good cable where the elements have been kept out. My brother was an electrician on an old ship (Italian, early 50s) for some time - he said that they had problems at the ends (perished rubber, salty moist atmosphere), but stripping it back a few inches would get them back a good IR. Similar problem where the sheath was damaged. In that respect, very much like MICC.
I did a few weeks on the same ship (voluntary work), and can say that the original wiring was a similar work of art. All cables carefully arranged, all clips made for exactly the bundle of wires it was holding, and so on. Even picked up a few words of Italian - well you had to, everything was labelled in Italian.
But I digress. If the IR is OK, and the rubber is not obviously crumbling out of the end, then I'd suggest not touching it. Unfortunately, given the neatness of installation it's unlikely that you'd have the luxury of cutting back a couple of inches to get to fresh rubber. MICC will be a lot harder to work with - both stiffer, and absolutely needing proper end sealing. Any unsealed end will absorb moisture and your IR will drop quickly.

 

[sparkwright]

You say you are rewiring the ship, yet the owner wants to keep as much old wiring and fittings as possible.

It would certainly ruin the authenticity of it all if the old wiring was removed.

If rewiring is the only option I suppose MICC is the only choice if everything is to look the same, but then you possibly have a problem fitting new glands to the old electrical boxes. Long boring job for someone.

With that in mind, bodging with something like FP200 would at least be much easier, though not single core, and the whole appearance just wouldn't look 'quality' like it does now.

 

[SimonH2]

Could possibly use the same glands - and put a pot seal (less the rest of the MICC gland) inside the fitting, if there's enough room for that.

 

[flyingsparks]

From my limited knowledge of that cable - some first hand, some second hand - I'd say ...
It's known to be a very good cable where the elements have been kept out. My brother was an electrician on an old ship (Italian, early 50s) for some time - he said that they had problems at the ends (perished rubber, salty moist atmosphere), but stripping it back a few inches would get them back a good IR. Similar problem where the sheath was damaged. In that respect, very much like MICC.
I did a few weeks on the same ship (voluntary work), and can say that the original wiring was a similar work of art. All cables carefully arranged, all clips made for exactly the bundle of wires it was holding, and so on. Even picked up a few words of Italian - well you had to, everything was labelled in Italian.
But I digress. If the IR is OK, and the rubber is not obviously crumbling out of the end, then I'd suggest not touching it. Unfortunately, given the neatness of installation it's unlikely that you'd have the luxury of cutting back a couple of inches to get to fresh rubber. MICC will be a lot harder to work with - both stiffer, and absolutely needing proper end sealing. Any unsealed end will absorb moisture and your IR will drop quickly.

Are you saying that inside the lead sheath is a rubber insulator (not cloth as I previously thought)?

Would a bare copper MICC be ok in a salt water environment? Obviously the ends would need terminating properly!

 

[JohnW2]

Would a bare copper MICC be ok in a salt water environment?

I'm no chemist or metallurgist, but I do know that , in times of old, there were periods when copper cladding was commonly used to protect the hulls of wooden sea-going ships - and I think it was, in itself, relatively successful other than for electrolytic corrosion if/where it came in contact with iron.

Kind Regards, John

 

[bernardgreen]

Lead sheathed cable is still available albeit with a PVC outer jacket

They are suitable for installation in indoors and outdoors, in cable ducts, under ground, in power and switching stations, local energy distributions, industrial plants, where there is no risk of mechanical damage. The lead sheath brings an enhanced resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons.

Given there is a cinsiderable amount of cable to be replaced it might be cost effective to ask if a quantity of cable could be produced without the PVC jacket.

 

[flyingsparks]

Lead sheathed cable is still available albeit with a PVC outer jacket

View attachment 143414



Given there is a cinsiderable amount of cable to be replaced it might be cost effective to ask if a quantity of cable could be produced without the PVC jacket.

Interesting, I didn't know any would still make a lead sheathed cable. Smallest size there is 10mm csa..

 

[flyingsparks]

I'm no chemist or metallurgist, but I do know that , in times of old, there were periods when copper cladding was commonly used to protect the hulls of wooden sea-going ships - and I think it was, in itself, relatively successful other than for electrolytic corrosion if/where it came in contact with iron.

Kind Regards, John

That's good to know.

 

[flyingsparks]

Could possibly use the same glands - and put a pot seal (less the rest of the MICC gland) inside the fitting, if there's enough room for that.

I am going back there in a week or two to have a play and see what I can come up with..

 

[bernardgreen]

I didn't know any would still make a lead sheathed cable. Smallest size there is 10mm csa.

I tried to PM you. Is this a sponsored renovation project ?

 

[flyingsparks]

I tried to PM you. Is this a sponsored renovation project ?

I can't see a PM for some reason? It is a charity and being done with various funding.

 

[bernardgreen]

The system wouldn't let me send a PM to you

Error message
Participants:
You may not start a conversation with the following recipients: flyingsparks

I did see that the smallest listed stock cable was 10 mm. That said it is not impossible that they could make lead sheathed cable to the size you require.

Being a renovation project they may be prepared to manufacture a special size at cost in return for a mention on the list of sponsors of the project.

There is (was about 10 years ago) another specialist company that makes ( or supplies ) lead sheathed telephone cables but I cannot recall their name.

It may also be that lead sheathed cable can only be legally supplied with a plastic jacket which could then be removed at installation as it is a historical restoration project.

Regards

Bernard

 

[KenGMac]

Sorry if a bit late to this thread.

How about you start contacting groups or organisations that have completed such renovations or indeed are in the process of doing so?

As mentioned above the Queen Mary is berthed in Glasgow [yes it is still there] or was when I passed along the Clydeside Expressway a couple of days ago] this lady is undergoing a large make over and the group undertaking the project may be worth looking up?

Also berthed close by is the Paddle Steamer "Waverly" that is maintained and operated as the last Sea Going P/S in the world that group could give some pointers? This old Lady was built in the 1940s

Down the coast from where i live is the Irvine Maritime Museum they have several floating exhibits as well as a static land based museum, they could be a further source of dare i say it up to date information and a route to sourcing more and solid information as to what you seek.

Indeed why not expand your search and contact as many such groups and charities as you can find, all will have a back catalogue of helpfull information??

Ken

 

[flyingsparks]

Sorry if a bit late to this thread.

How about you start contacting groups or organisations that have completed such renovations or indeed are in the process of doing so?

As mentioned above the Queen Mary is berthed in Glasgow [yes it is still there] or was when I passed along the Clydeside Expressway a couple of days ago] this lady is undergoing a large make over and the group undertaking the project may be worth looking up?

Also berthed close by is the Paddle Steamer "Waverly" that is maintained and operated as the last Sea Going P/S in the world that group could give some pointers? This old Lady was built in the 1940s

Down the coast from where i live is the Irvine Maritime Museum they have several floating exhibits as well as a static land based museum, they could be a further source of dare i say it up to date information and a route to sourcing more and solid information as to what you seek.

Indeed why not expand your search and contact as many such groups and charities as you can find, all will have a back catalogue of helpfull information??

Ken

All good ideas Ken. Thank you

 

[KenGMac]

I am a great believer in not trying to re-invent lead wheels.

As an [obvious] aside if the Charity you are working for may I call it "benefit" from making contact with the other conservation groups around the country, there has got to be a massive store of hard won knowledge and in-site into the specialised conservation you have embarked [no pun] upon.

Ken