February 17, 20233 yr Unlucky while mounting trunking. Drilled this surfix which feeds a plug point for my fridge. There is no conduit and cable is plastered into the tiled wall and goes behind kitchen cupboards. What are my options to repair it?
February 17, 20233 yr Best is to replace wire but that isn't an option. I would fit a 4x4 socket box and do the joint in the enclosure. Then put a cover on it so that it is accessible if need be.
February 17, 20233 yr 1 minute ago, Jacques Ester said: Best is to replace wire but that isn't an option. I would fit a 4x4 socket box and do the joint in the enclosure. Then put a cover on it so that it is accessible if need be. That is a good idea, however, if possible, just add another socket point there. But the cable may not be big enough to do it. You may be able to do it with a scotchcast cable joint kit. Scotchcast™ Cable Jointing Kits | 3M South Africa
February 17, 20233 yr Author 5 minutes ago, Superfly said: Unbelievable to see such dodgy work (in contrast my whole house has metal conduit) - but I agree with others above - a junction box will probably suffice. Yeah it's an old house. They extended the kitchen before and just threw cables in the walls as there is no ceiling space. But the cable runs in the middle of nowhere. Was surprised myself when the power tripped
February 17, 20233 yr Author Right where I wanted to go up with my trunking. I can either use the trunking to hide it or have another plug point.
February 17, 20233 yr Count yourself lucky that it is "only" electric cable and not a water pipe. It will be a pain but certainly fixable. I would carefully remove the outer sleeve and prefer to only cut the conductor that is damaged - if possible. Potting the fixed joints with special resin as suggested by Antonio is best. Especially in wet room areas. An alternative would be to use a high quality self-sealing heat-shrink tubing. I knew the harness man at work that build mil-grade harnesses who used the stuff. It is a shinny heat-shrink rather than the common matt version. Imbedded is a glue like substance that is fuzzed when heated. Sorry, I am unsure what it is called. It is most likely a Hellerman product. Maybe RS-components would keep it. I am a bit out of touch with electric distribution places and I would not be surprised to find that many such specialist distributors might not have survived Covid and the collapse of Denel. The stuff that Antonio recommended should be easier to obtain as this is used daily to fix underground cables of all shapes & sizes.
February 17, 20233 yr You can use ferrules heat type or crimp type with heat shrink over the joint. https://blog.hellermanntyton.com/products/6131/what-you-can-do-if-you-hit-an-electrical-cable-when-drilling-in-a-wall
February 17, 20233 yr I do all plumbing myself as well. Living in an old house, there is lots to replace. LOL. But I hate plumbing. Plumbing seems to ever give problems. Test: Do you have ANY friends or family that have NOT had some sort of mayor water damage in the last couple of years? Electric problems normally don't produce fine cement dust.... but just some dirty hands. At least this is true for houses build with conduits. New buildings use more and more surfix. Not replaceable and not expandable.
February 17, 20233 yr Author 43 minutes ago, Superfly said: Good to hear :} ... nope I have not had any major plumbing issues from friends and family - they just need me to install dishwashers etc and change stuff like replacing pressure control valves etc but no real plumbing issues... they are boring like that 😛 BTW Sorry @Chis_S for ninja'ing your thread. No problem. Plumbing I don't mind either. I've always done my own plumbing. I'm still undecided about this flippen wire though. I went and bought a resin repair kit but I don't feel like removing the inverter to replace the tile lol. So now I'm thinking a plug point here but then I need to adjust trunking. Dammit I hate being undecided. Anyway I'll figure something out and report back.
February 17, 20233 yr Author 16 minutes ago, Superfly said: I'm thinking ( now this is dangerous, be warned.. LOL) put a flush mount socket on top of the the trucking going up ( btw it's missing the DB ... where's it going? ) - the trunking should cover the hole... not so? DB's are there. Bottom trunking is for AC. Top trunking is for PV. Trunking will cover the hole like it is. But I'm not keen on leaving a hole. If I use a light switch box I might still be able to cover it with the trunking.
February 17, 20233 yr If you have spare tiles, I'd rather replace the entire tile. This way you'll also have more cable to work with and make a better repair. Also, you know the hole is there and (if you're like me) it's going to haunt you in your sleep. 😁
February 17, 20233 yr Author 8 minutes ago, Superfly said: I was just wondering where the 45 trunking was going... ? Then do the junction box and cover it... Its going up from the 45 degree. Over the hole and just below the PV DB. I'm going to look if I still have spare tiles lol.
February 17, 20233 yr Author 5 minutes ago, Superfly said: OK sweet ... let us know how you get on, but ... how are you going to terminate those connections? Ferrules. Heat shrink. Then in a resin repair tube thing. I may even solder the ferrules once crimped.
February 17, 20233 yr Author 2 minutes ago, Superfly said: Sounds good ... I don't think resin tubing is required for a recessed connection .. but if it suits you.. all good... I wasn't going to do it without the resin but then I thought about the wet plaster going on it. I'm to OCD lol.
February 23, 20233 yr On 2023/02/17 at 2:26 PM, Antonio de Sa said: That is a good idea, however, if possible, just add another socket point there. But the cable may not be big enough to do it. You may be able to do it with a scotchcast cable joint kit. Scotchcast™ Cable Jointing Kits | 3M South Africa Yes, Schotchcast joint is recommended, lasts forever.
February 23, 20233 yr 18 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said: Yes, Schotchcast joint is recommended, lasts forever. Yes indeed, even in refineries where the electrical safety standards are of the highest, that what it's used to mend damaged cables, I know, I'm talking out of personal experience.
February 24, 20233 yr 2 minutes ago, Chris_S said: I see you followed my advice and used a scotchcast kit. Well done.
February 24, 20233 yr Author 1 hour ago, Antonio de Sa said: I see you followed my advice and used a scotchcast kit. Well done. At R70 for that kit it was an easy decision. Thanks
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