Indeed, I've tried it in past - which is why I was questioning EFLIs view that armour does not provide useful mechanical protection. However, I suppose that in one sense what he said was correct. Whilst it is difficult 'getting through' SWA with a spade, any spade strike is pretty likely the damage the outer plastic sheath. Once that happens, the risk of corrosive damage/destruction of the armour arises (assuming it is buried) - so, in practice, one would probably usually have to replace some or all of the cable.
If the sheath has been penetrated (and the armour probably at least 'dented') by a substantial spade strike, how could you be sure that the cores (or insulation thereof) had not been damaged?
Wet finger on what? Are you talking about a destructive test? As I said, the outer sheath was intact, until I conducted the autopsy.
The wet finger test probably would have found it, but then whether the person could actually report it is another matter.
As I've just written, I don't understand this postulated wet finger test, given that the outer sheath was intact.
Ah, I see. That was, of course, only after I had removed the (intact until I removed it) outer sheath! Hence my point - that no non-destructive test would have detected the damage.
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