Matthew Durkin wrote:
My Sister has just bought an old house pre-20th century house. We've found a
couple of mains cables running from the fusebox that have a lead sheath
(they looked just like the modern plastic ones until I scratched the paint
off and they revealed shiny lead.
Not sure yet where they run, but my hunch is the lighting circuits.
Getting them out will be very difficult (especially for my sister!)
What current would these be normally rated at?
Could they be dangerous - how can I tell?
Is there any way of safety testing them?


My biggest concern would be for the insulation within the cable - it
can't be in very good condition after all that time. I would replace the
cable runs. It is rarely as difficult as it looks, and anyone who is
competent at wiring should have no trouble doing so.

--
Grunff