Uh oh...shorted MICC. How scr*wed am I?

[johnnyuk]

I've just been fettling some 50 year old 2L2.5 pyro (MICC) to relocate a plug socket. I probably bent the cable a little more than I should have (although I didn't feel it was particularly tight when I did it) when I was doing the fettling, but now I've pulled the cable straightish again, I seem to have a short across the live, neutral and earth on the cable in question.

This is my first time working on pryo - assuming I've managed to cause a short within the cable somehow by bending it, is this something that happens a lot and is there anything I can do to fix the short in the cable? Or is it a case of stripping the MICC back until I find the short? Plan B will be to replace the damaged leg if I can.

Or am I being incredibly dim somehow?

 

[MDJ]

Anyway after all that, having belled out the circuit and established exactly what would be required to recommission the MICC for this circuit, I've decided to abandon in and just get a new circuit installed in pvc.

That a shame, MICC is one of the greatest ways to wire up a circuit, its life span is several times that of PVC

 

[johnnyuk]

That a shame, MICC is one of the greatest ways to wire up a circuit, its life span is several times that of PVC

Any thoughts on how to terminate abandoned cables before burying? i've heard of joining all three cores and wrapping in tape before burying, but a bit difficult with micc if the gland is missing.

 

[PS Electrics]

Any thoughts on how to terminate abandoned cables before burying? i've heard of joining all three cores and wrapping in tape before burying,

Yes if having to leave redundant cables in situ then short ends out so if the cable ever did somehow become energised it will operate any protective device supplying it.

Not sure where I picked this up from either but believe it is accepted practice.

but a bit difficult with micc if the gland is missing.

Could you use a suitable sized jubilee clip to clamp the cores to the outer sheath?

 

[johnnyuk]

good thinking ps electrics i'll run with that.

thanks