Old copper tube wiring

[Mako]

Hi,

Mate of mine has knocked down a stud wall to join his kitchen and living room.  The two lighting switches attached to this wall will be relocated on an adjacent wall.  However....the cable joining up to these switches isn't...cable.  Its copper pipe about 7mm thick with a metal cylinder about half the size of a wine cork on the end of it.  Protruding from this "cork" are the three wires connecting to the switch.

Anyone ever come across this before and know what it is?  I have been searching the internet for about nearly 2 hours and cannot find anything like it.

 

[Rob.]

Mineral insulated copper clad cable. Or MICC, sometimes referred to as PYRO.

For relocating this cable I'd say it was beyond the capability of a DIY person, and that your friend will need to hire an electrician. Done correctly this type of cable will outlast the installer by decades. 

 

[Tony S]

If you don't have the right tools or experience, as RoB said "leave it alone and get a professional in"

http://www.pentairthermal.com/Images/EN-PyrotenaxMIcommercialwiring-IM-H57864_tcm432-26193.pdf

 

[Mako]

Fantastic, thanks both.  Been a great help.

 

[kerching]

Check with the Electrician that he knows how to work with MICC!...I know it sounds odd but most Electricians nowadays have little or no experience of it. I do not think it is taught at college anymore either

 

[Blue Duck]

Could it be copper clad cable? 

Even more of a PITA!

If the property is EX LA then it could be MICC.