wicket
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 10:47 AM |
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Power cable discolouration
I am having some work done at home and have noticed this 'greening' of the power cables. The cable that is green is from the original
build in 1977 and the other that are still white is when the extension was built in 1990. The green deposit has an oily consistency, any ideas what
causes it. I have also noticed it on the old wiring in the power sockets.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=showphoto&photo=Dscn0574_1.jpg
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BenB
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 11:12 AM |
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Looks like verdigris (copper oxide). The wires are copper so kind of makes sense.
Haven't seen it happen before though!!! Must mean the copper wire is oxidising and the oxide leaching out into the covering.
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 11:32 AM |
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Never seen that before! Odd it's just that one cable..
It's not damp on the cable??
Dan
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Guinness
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 12:38 PM |
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It's the insulation degrading 
The PVC splits into the dry plastic and the oil.
http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Circuit%20Protection/Miniature%20Circuit%20Breakers/0110DB0301.pdf
If the wire is in situ, it probably won't short out, but if it gets knocked the insulation can just crumble away and expose the copper!
I'd recommend getting it replaced.
Mike
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flak monkey
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 12:44 PM |
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What Mike said...possibly a bad batch of wire at the time by the sounds of it. PVC shouldn't degrade that quickly - most household wiring lasts
50+ years.
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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miikae
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 01:16 PM |
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Is there a makers name and other info on the cable , as over the years lots of cable has been imported fom Asia, you can usualy tell it by the
conductor covering as they are all white with a top colour added blue brown etc, i used to use loads of it as it was all one could get at certain
times, ( it was rubbish to strip) many contractors bought it from Wicks around here as it was a lot cheaper than there usual wholeseller .
Mike
If it can be done it i will be done .
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richardlee237
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 02:09 PM |
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The discolouration appears to be nearer the junction boxes. I suggest you have a look in the jb to check that there is no local overheating which may
have caused the sheath to start decomposing.
If the gunge cleans off and the cable is not brittle or degraded then you should be OK.
Of course it could be just where you have sneezed. 
Quote Lord Kelvin
“Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in race horses and women.”
Quote Richard Lee
"and cars"
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wilkingj
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| posted on 8/8/09 at 02:59 PM |
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Have you had any polystyrene near that cable?
Polystyrene will leech the oil from the PVC, and then the insulation goes brittle and falls away becoming dangerous.
We has to sheath all our cables on out boat where they passed through the Polystyrene insulation sheets.
Heard about it, but not seen it before.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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