Mice and possible rats

tazz · Jun 13, 2014

I better start a new thread.....Micc is not always suitable.....lol
micc is only a few thou of copper......a 15mm copper pipe is a total solid copper....as i suggest, try gently with a pair of cutters, on a piece of micc, and you will see how thin it really is.....try on a copper pipe, i dont think you will get the same result...

tazz · Jun 13, 2014

micknew said:
Glad you enjoyed that.
you live and learn.

Well with all respect...we are trying to show you individual experiences, we have all come across over many years, It may help you one day

shanky887614 · Jun 13, 2014

tazz said:
I better start a new thread.....Micc is not always suitable.....lol
micc is only a few thou of copper......a 15mm copper pipe is a total solid copper....as i suggest, try gently with a pair of cutters, on a piece of micc, and you will see how thin it really is.....try on a copper pipe, i dont think you will get the same result...

yes but what im saying is copper is smooth so how can they bite it, there teeth will slip

tazz · Jun 13, 2014

Again we are trying to help here.........I actually never sat in the loft and waited to see what exactly happened....but when you have to answer to the client to why it did, it becomes a problem. especially when all adaptable boxes for tv, micc fire alarm, t&e, coax and data have all been chewed through...an expensive job

davesparks · Jun 13, 2014

If its tree-rats getting in then they will chew anything, whatever shape it is and whatever it is made of.

As I said earlier I think it is more than likely that they have damaged the sheath as a by-product of chewing the PVC oversheath.
I've never yet seen bare MI that has had the copper nibbled, but have seen a soft copper oil pipe (the PVC coated copper pipe) that had the pvc chewed and teeth marks in the copper.

For the vast majority of rodent problems MICC is perfectly adequate, but once you get into the seriously affected installations (eg some of the farms around here) it isn't necessarily ok.

Brightspark2 · Jun 14, 2014

shanky887614 said:
you sure? barely touch the conductors before they would probably die as the sheathing is earthed through the pot and to the gland through the olive

Ah our new resident pyro expert!....

Richard Burns · Jun 14, 2014

Yes, madam, we do believe we have found some evidence of rodent activity around the wiring!

[ElectriciansForums.net] Mice and possible rats

Pete999 · Jun 14, 2014

Can't in all honesty believe a rodent would bite through MICC, unless it was some sort of mutant thing that found it's way over from Chernobyl, as for conduit especially kopex, can't see that as an option either. Best way would be get rid of the pesky critters altogether oh and those electronic thingies are a waste of space, my Mrs got some we still get spiders mice and all sorts.

Engineer54 · Jun 14, 2014

Our external SWA cables that run in ductwork, all round the site, or installed on cable tray on the roofs etc, have a sheath that is claimed to be anti flora and fauna. I'll have to have a look at the manufacturers data to give any more information.

Trying to install a full metallic conduit containment system to an existing house, is going to be expensive exercise, nay, very expensive exercise!! I hope whoever is going to attempt it, is also experienced in bending and setting conduit or you'll be left with a bloody big pile of wasted off cut pipe at the end of the job that'll need to be got rid of!! lol!!

GMES · Jun 14, 2014

You mean something like this Pete

Pete999 said:
Can't in all honesty believe a rodent would bite through MICC, unless it was some sort of mutant thing that found it's way over from Chernobyl, as for conduit especially kopex, can't see that as an option either. Best way would be get rid of the pesky critters altogether oh and those electronic thingies are a waste of space, my Mrs got some we still get spiders mice and all sorts.

Pete999 · Jun 14, 2014

GMES said:
View attachment 25110
You mean something like this Pete

Big Burger aint it

Andrewr3 · Jun 14, 2014

Talking of mouse damage. I found this on a fault a few weeks ago. You can see the mouse(?) damage on two of the cables. One of the conductors completely chewed through was part of a two way lighting circuit. No dead mouse that I could see.

Some of you may note the image other issues I came across at the same time.