Exposed wiring

stebiz

Had a few mice in the house and they gnawed on a bit of wiring. Haven't got photos but its similar to this. I;ve put some insulation tape on and they are away from us ie under floor level but should I have separated the wires?

Wiring is up to latest regs and is connected to a trip meter.

Mr.Generous

that looks like damage to the outer sleeving only, if the mice are gone and its taped up reasonably well I wouldn't worry. At worst you could cut out the damaged section and put new in with junction boxes, or if a bit of slack in the cables (usually is) just one junction box.

When you say consumer unit has a trip there is a difference between a circuit breaker and an RCD - the breaker protects against overloading while the newer RCD will trip if there is a leak to earth.

I wonder if it would trip quick enough to save a gnawing mouse?

stebiz

Sorry mate. It is an new RCD unit. Never took much notice of the wiring. It was only a couple of inches at most. This wasn't the pic but gives an idea........the pics off the net.

Risteard

stebiz wrote: »

I;ve put some insulation tape on

[...]

Wiring is up to latest regs

I'm afraid that is a contradiction as what you have done does NOT comply with the Wiring Regulations.

stebiz

So taping an exposed wire makes it non compliant?

Tothepoint.

stebiz wrote: »

So taping an exposed wire makes it non compliant?

I think he's splitting hairs about the black neutral cable.

quidsinquentin

Risteard

Tothepoint. wrote: »

I think he's splitting hairs about the black neutral cable.

No - we were already told that this wasn't a picture of the actual cable.

My point was simply that a bit of insulating tape over a damaged cable sheath in no way meets the requirements of BS7671, including for mechanical protection.