In message , James
Salisbury writes

"Matthew Durkin" wrote in message
...
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?
Any other comments?


If they are still live, turn the mains off at the fuse box and the
instalation is not to be turned back on untill inspected by a qualified
electrician.....

Lead went out with the ark, is is the rubber at the ends that degrades.


Well, yes that is the 'correct' thing to do probably.

However, turning off the mains fore the whole house may not be very
practicable.

Yes, it would be worried about the insulation inside this cable which is
likely to be rubber - or rather I'd be worried about the insulation at
the ends of the cable where it terminates.


But my experience of a house that had a fir bit of original 1930's
rubber insulated cable (and I had a bit of this lead sheathed cable as
well) is that it's mostly ok until you start fiddling with it, when of
course the insulation drops off and then becomes rather dangerous.

To the OP, yes I'd assume this is unsafe and leave it alone and I'd want
to replace it ASAP, either myself or getting an electrician in. I'd also
want to check the rest of the installation. And don't be taken in by
first appearances. Our house had had a lot of work done in the 60's
sockets and new light circuits had been wired in PVC cable, but the new
light switches had just been connected to the old rubber 1930's wiring.
--
Chris French, Leeds