Connecting an Outdoor Power Cable

[shuttle1987]

Hi all

Yesterday I accidentally dug into the outdoor power cable that runs from my house to the garage (the power was off luckily) so I am reconnecting it today via a Junction box.

Attached is the damage done / box that I have purchased.

Does the armouring (thin wires) around the original 2 way cable act as an earth and need rejoining or is this just there to protect the cables?

I think the box I’ve purchased will do the job but wanted to double check with some experts.

Cheers
Jason

Post moved to correct forum. Regards R-T-N

 

[Murdoch]

How did you damage that cable?

As there are only 2 cores then almost certainly the swa was being used as the earth

And repairing a cable like that is extremely difficult unless there is any spare left in it

It needs to be tested afterwards too

 

[shuttle1987]

Thank you

We were putting sleepers down and hit it with a bracket as we hammered it down.

 

[Andy™]

How did you damage that cable?

As there are only 2 cores then almost certainly the swa was being used as the earth

And repairing a cable like that is extremely difficult unless there is any spare left in it

It needs to be tested afterwards too

wrong colours for being 2 core, there will be a grey behind thats not visible

either way, that junction box is not suitable

best would be proper resin join, youll still need to cut & fix that black conductor as its too badly damaged, possibly same with brown

 

[shuttle1987]

Thank you for your reply

Would this one be more suitable then as it’s resin based?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Resin-Unde...ocphy=1006561&hvtargid=pla-697586100430&psc=1

 

[kerching]

Yes you need the resin joint or equivalent. Your main issue is gaining a bit of spare cable to be able to join the damaged cores together. The steel wire also needs joining through

 

[shuttle1987]

Thank you, this is really helpful

 

[Geoff1946]

If it isn't very long the best job would be to dig it out and put a new length of cable in.

 

[steptoe]

A resin joint is the best, but maybe not the most DIY friendly,
A pratley box may be easier.
As said above, your biggest issue will be getting enough slack to make a joint.

 

[King Arthur]

A resin joint is the best, but maybe not the most DIY friendly,
A pratley box may be easier.
As said above, your biggest issue will be getting enough slack to make a joint.

I've never had to repair an underground cable but have done a few water and waste pipes and it always involved cutting back to undamaged pipe and then inserting a short new section, thus requiring two new joints.

Wouldn't the same apply here? Especially for maintaining the armour protection.

 

[steptoe]

I've never had to repair an underground cable but have done a few water and waste pipes and it always involved cutting back to undamaged pipe and then inserting a short new section, thus requiring two new joints.

Wouldn't the same apply here? Especially for maintaining the armour protection.

The less joints the better, if it's close to one end you could replace the section and just have one joint.
But, if it needs 2 joints then so be it.

 

[michael8554]

We could get into the argument that it wasn't buried deep enough, and no warning tape above ?

(But that wouldn't have stopped a spike or mattock driven from ground-level)