Dangerous outdoor/garage wiring.

[Alex1M6]

Hello I am new here.

This is regarding my parents house electrical wiring that leads out to the garage.

Here is a small amount of background information, I am 17 years old and over the last year or so I have started taking interest in electronics in general and have learned quite a bit about many different electrical related things and had some experience.

Recently I have been reading up on domestic 230vac mains electrical systems when I installed and added an additional mains outlet in my room (which I installed fine and followed all of the different codes/guidelines regarding this).

How ever I noticed something interesting about the wiring that connects the garage which is a separate building about 15ft away from the house to the 230v mains, it seems that who ever connected it up basically ran what looks like a regular 2.5mm twin and earth (although I can not be sure there is an earth conductor) from the RCD box in the kitchen and ran it along the kitchen wall then through the wall to the outside where it runs along half of the length of the house and then is suspended over a 15ft gap where it connects to the garage. What is more is that the cable is exposed to the elements with no PVC pipe or anything to protect it, just the usual grey rubber outer protection.

I can see that the grey rubber protection is starting to show its age and wear off.

Does this sound safe? (I don't think it does), I have tried to explain this to my parents but they seem to think that becuase it has been like that for a number of years and works of they can just leave it.

Some things that are plugged in/used in garage are an old freezer,lighting (which is on the same circuit to the outlets, unlike the house lighting), and various other power tools.


The house is quite old and was built in the 20's/30's so I am not sure if this type of workmanship was acceptable back then.

I can provide photographs of the wiring if anyone wanted some.

Any thoughts/advice would be a appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Des 56]

The house is quite old and was built in the 20's/30's
so I am not sure if this type of workmanship was acceptable back then.

Thanks.

Some of todays workmanship would not be acceptable back then

Standards of old can be gold sometimes

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Some of todays workmanship would not be acceptable back then

Standards of old can be gold sometimes

Seen a few works of art. Possibly when time taken to complete the job in hand was not the main driver ....

Best mate used to be and I&C gas fitter at gas board. One job where it was massively over resourced (was a 3 day job and they had 2 weeks to do it) he brazed every joint in a factory, and then buffed them until you could see Jesus in it.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Seen a few works of art. Possibly when time taken to complete the job in hand was not the main driver ....

Best mate used to be and I&C gas fitter at gas board. One job where it was massively over resourced (was a 3 day job and they had 2 weeks to do it) he brazed every joint in a factory, and then buffed them until you could see Jesus in it.[/QUOTE]

When did he get back on the tools ?

 

[TPES]

What would you code this as on a periodic? And why?

 

[kung]

Depends on earthing system and if the garage has E.C.Ps ! Exported earth could be a problem but as said this needs (no offence) an electrician to take a look and advise.

 

[Alex1M6]

Well I tried telling them about the recommendation's on this thread and it looks like they are going to remain ignorant, "There is nothing wrong with it" and "it is working fine now so there is no need to have it looked at".

People with this sort of attitude to things as potentially dangerous as electricity annoy me, even if they are my parents. I have also just noticed that they have both the microwave and toaster running of an extension cord the runs into the wall, which I think spurs off a double outlet in the room next to it.

Alex.