Locating an SWA fault?

[KAS1]

Why on earth wasn't this ducted into the building lol

 

[Guitarist]

Why on earth wasn't this ducted into the building lol

Ducted? Thinking ahead?
Have you actually worked with builders?

 

[SJD]

Thanks for the additional comments.

As to how/why the cable was installed as it was, that was before I got involved, but I gather the customer bought the cable and asked the builder to put it in before it was too late. Possibly the builder knows it was not done properly, or possibly just doesn't understand, as already mentioned.

 

[Engineer54]

Were all knocking the builder here, but what if the homeowner has put his garden fork through this cable, The OP did say that the cable passes through newly finished plant beds?? You could still blame the builder to a certain extent mind, for not burying the cable to a suitable depth!! lol!!

 

[pennywise]

It's always the builder!!!!

 

[guest119]

Give them your opinion of where the fault is, ohms one end, ohms other end, cable length, % etc and let them argue with the builders.

Boydy

 

[SJD]

I've already indicated the fault is approx. 1/8 from the end at the CU, which puts it pretty much at the boundary where it exits the extension and enters under the brick-built raised beds, but there is quite a margin of error in this (a 0.03 Ohm reading, with careful nulling), which is where I began. Inside, the builders are at fault, outside then there are some landscape gardeners who did the flower beds that might be at fault. Yes, cutting at the boundary will give some answers, but there is so little of the cable accessible, and depending on which part is damaged, the owner still has thoughts of reusing the non-damaged part, which is why I didn't cut it to check so far.

 

[Guitarist]

Whoever laid it is at fault. Obviously not at the correct depth or adequately protected. There should have been no digging into it as tape should be buried about 6 inches down to warn it's there.
Sorry, but no excuses here from whoever did it.

 

[benji]

have you tried exposing cable outside of extension and give it a good pull to see if it moves if its only 8mtr you might be able to pull enough to see damage (unless its cast in concrete)

 

[Engineer54]

have you tried exposing cable outside of extension and give it a good pull to see if it moves if its only 8mtr you might be able to pull enough to see damage (unless its cast in concrete)

The 8 metres is set into a concrete slab, the other 50+ metres is buried!! I'd like to see you, or even King Kong, to pull more than an inch, and then only if you're very lucky!! lol!!

 

[richy3333]

Bet the Hulk could pull it out?

 

[ruston]

Hang on I'll be there soon.

 

[ruston]

And I will make the trench a little deeper for you.

 

[SJD]

Update: After some delay, the builder finally brought his electrician along and they replaced the damaged SWA section - the first approx. 8m, that goes under the concrete floor, and probably got damaged when laying the concrete.

There is a nice resin sealed joint to the rest of the cable. However, there is no continuity of the steel armour, only the 3 cores (which all test fine). Yes, I can earth the two halves of the SWA outer from each end separately, since one core will be earth. But should I really be insisting the joint is remade?

 

[Silly Sausage]

No continuity of the armour, that would instantly make me suspicious of the rest of the joint!