Twin + Earth, Multistrand earth conductor

[Diyisfun]

I found a connected cable that has a multi strand STEEL earth wire.
Never seen this before, how long ago was this cable used?.

 

[Zambezi]

Are you sure it is not tinned copper?

 

[Diyisfun]

It was steel, as I had to disconnect it, to use it as a draw wire to pull a signal cable through.

 

[kevindgas]

put simply it is old enough to be worth a rewire!!

think it dates back to early 70's but can't be sure for certain but definately pre 80's

 

[Diyisfun]

Thanks for that.
It's a 1890's house, most has been rewired.

 

[RF Lighting]

I'll bet you it was tinned copper.

 

[Spark123]

I'll second that!

 

[wingcoax]

Last time i came across stranded earth wire the conductors were trs twin ,as far as i can remember this hasn't been used since the 60s(early)

 

[flameport]

Tinned copper. No way that it was steel.

Did it look like this?

Old tinned copper T+E

• flameport
• 29 Apr 2009
• 1

Stranded copper with tin coating, common in older properties. NOT aluminium.

 

[wingcoax]

I think he means a seperate earth wire. They did used to use steel.

 

[Diyisfun]

Tinned copper. No way that it was steel.

Did it look like this?

Old tinned copper T+E

• flameport
• 29 Apr 2009
• 1

Stranded copper with tin coating, common in older properties. NOT aluminium.

Yes

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It wasn't steel then.

If you've still got some, scrape at the cpc with a blade and you'll see copper.

Thanks for that.
It's a 1890's house, most has been rewired.

It certainly won't still have the wiring that was installed when it was built.

Are you aware that any remaining rewiring will almost certainly be notifiable?

 

[bernardgreen]

I have seen twin and earth cable where the earth wire was steel. Some time before 1962 my uncle had used it as a catenary cable anchoring the steel wires to the fixings on the walls. And coated it with bitumen to prevent rusting.

Now whether it was steel for strength or because of shortages of copper meant steel was used as a substitute I have no idea.

 

[Diyisfun]

The earth conductor is STEEL, or very stiff copper,

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Sounds possible

I have seen twin and earth cable where the earth wire was steel.

News to me.