main electric cable going into the property and is all corrected

hepatel

i have a main electric meter in the kitchen under the stairs. I removed the living room wooden floor boards to put insulation and notice the main electric cable is running under the floor boards and connected to the meter. The main electric cable which is high voltage is all corroded and some part or the ground has water appearing and damp which caused the main electric cable to corrode and this cable is over 100 years old. I feel this is a hazard and dangers as any time the water can go into the main electric line. Do i need to report this hazard to the electric board?.

I never thought that a electric meter in the kitchen under the stairs would be the correct place to have usually this would be at the front room or front passage. This would make the main cable sort and avoid running into the property.

Also how can i avoid water coming from the ground ? some part of the ground seems to stay wet and has small puddles.

Robin9

At 100+ years old this will be a lead covered cable with an outer hessian layer.   Does this cable terminate in a metal box filled with pitch ?

Water will not enter the cable in this way

Under the stairs was a common arrangement -  not considered ideal but will not be changed 

[Deleted User]

Do i need to report this hazard to the electric board?. 

Electricity Boards became extinct when electricity was privatised. Electricity supply to your meter is managed by a District Network Operator. If the cable is from the Grid to your meter,  then you should inform your DNO.

You are responsible for the wiring from the meter.

FWiW, even modern homes tend to be wet underneath the flooring. If you are concerned then you will need to engage the services of a structural surveyor who can check such things as underfloor ventilation.

MWT

You can check who your DNO is here:

https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator

hepatel

Robin9 said:

At 100+ years old this will be a lead covered cable with an outer hessian layer.   Does this cable terminate in a metal box filled with pitch ?

Water will not enter the cable in this way

Under the stairs was a common arrangement -  not considered ideal but will not be changed 

Robin9 said:

At 100+ years old this will be a lead covered cable with an outer hessian layer.   Does this cable terminate in a metal box filled with pitch ?

Water will not enter the cable in this way

Under the stairs was a common arrangement -  not considered ideal but will not be changed 

i cant seem to see any lead covered around the cable. i just see rust all over the cable. i tried to scrape the rust and there seem to be more rust.

hepatel

Dolor said:

Do i need to report this hazard to the electric board?. 

Electricity Boards became extinct when electricity was privatised. Electricity supply to your meter is managed by a District Network Operator. If the cable is from the Grid to your meter,  then you should inform your DNO.

You are responsible for the wiring from the meter.

FWiW, even modern homes tend to be wet underneath the flooring. If you are concerned then you will need to engage the services of a structural surveyor who can check such things as underfloor ventilation.

i contacted the electricity boards there told me someone will come out to have a look

Reed_Richards

hepatel said:

i cant seem to see any lead covered around the cable. i just see rust all over the cable. i tried to scrape the rust and there seem to be more rust.

If the "cable" appears straight, solid and inflexible then what you are looking at may be a steel tube and the actual cable will be inside.  And the electricity supply to your meter is no higher voltage than the electric wiring inside your house, 230 volts -6%, +10%    

Scot_39

Scraping an electrical cable not a good idea - even with a non conducting implement.

You sure it's not tarred hessian wrapper over the lead sheaving / conduit your scrapping rather than rust.

Common for ground cabling c1930s.

hepatel

Scot_39 said:

Scraping an electrical cable not a good idea - even with a non conducting implement.

You sure it's not tarred hessian wrapper over the lead sheaving / conduit your scrapping rather than rust.

Common for ground cabling c1930s.

please see attached photos thanks

Robin9

Have you a picture of where the cable terminates into the DNO's main fuse - may be metal or plastic.

Ectophile

This is the UK.  It rains a lot, and the ground is wet.  You can't stop it being wet.  The electricity cables in this country are usually buried, and so they use cables that are designed to cope with the damp.

Given the age, that's most probably PILC.  Paper Insulated*, Lead Covered.  It's wrapped in tar-soaked hessian when it's made.  Over the years, the hessian will have deteriorated into a manky mess, which is probably what you're seeing.  Provided that the lead is intact, that doesn't matter.

*Yes, really.  Before modern plastics were invented, they needed something to insulate cables.  Oil-soaked paper is actually a good insulator, and the oil repels water.