On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 22:19:25 GMT, 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?
Any other comments?
Thanks,
Matthew

The insulation will almost certainly be butyl rubber. It has a tendency
to degrade seriously where it is exposed to air, i.e. at all joints,
switches, plugs, etc. and becomes brittle, crumbly, and powdery. Cut a
length in half and you'll probably find the insulation is perfect! There
can also be problems with earth continuity.

Butyl rubber was a common insulant within the electricity supply
industry 60 to 70 years ago, used for lead-in cables to properties. Much
has been replaced, although it still turns up in predominantly rural
locations.

Lead sheathed cable is now considered to be unsafe for electrical
installation work, and should be replaced ASAP.

--
wanderer at tesco dot net