It's possibly better not to say how this occurred as it is a long
story, but I knicked a cable to a socket this morning using my Bosch
multitool causing a flash/bang, a buggered blade and irritatingly a
remarkably neat little cut in the cable.

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

Having been stymied on that job - this is my daughter's house I'm
working on - I went off to look at a socket moving she wants and
that's going to have to a rewiring of the ring, so the same problem
exists.

Rob

On Apr 26, 6:06*pm, robgraham wrote:
It's possibly better not to say how this occurred as it is a long
story, but I knicked a cable to a socket this morning using my Bosch
multitool causing a flash/bang, a buggered blade and irritatingly a
remarkably neat little cut in the cable.

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? *I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

Having been stymied on that job - this is my daughter's house I'm
working on - I went off to look at a socket moving she wants and
that's going to have to a rewiring of the ring, so the same problem
exists.

Rob

If there is any slack in the cable you could put in a joint box.
If not, a joint box and a new bit of cable to the next socket.
Or a new bit of cable between sockets.
Or more fiddly, a soldered joint and heat shrink sleeving.
(Multilayer,replacing isulation and sheath).

On Apr 26, 6:06*pm, robgraham wrote:
It's possibly better not to say how this occurred as it is a long
story, but I knicked a cable to a socket this morning using my Bosch
multitool causing a flash/bang, a buggered blade and irritatingly a
remarkably neat little cut in the cable.

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? *I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

Having been stymied on that job - this is my daughter's house I'm
working on - I went off to look at a socket moving she wants and
that's going to have to a rewiring of the ring, so the same problem
exists.

Rob

Lot easier to fix whats there usually. Crimp or solder if you're going
to bury it, or add a new socket there and use screw cons.


NT

robgraham wrote:
So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ?

When drawing a cable if there's an existing cable that I'm replacing
I tend to use it as the draw-string. I tend to find it easier to
tape cable to cable than to attach a cable to string or rope. I often
also use offcuts of cables as draw-strings as well, particularly the
classic over-ceiling route or wall void only accessible from each end.

JGH

On 26/04/2011 18:06, robgraham wrote:
It's possibly better not to say how this occurred as it is a long
story, but I knicked a cable to a socket this morning using my Bosch
multitool causing a flash/bang, a buggered blade and irritatingly a
remarkably neat little cut in the cable.

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

Having been stymied on that job - this is my daughter's house I'm
working on - I went off to look at a socket moving she wants and
that's going to have to a rewiring of the ring, so the same problem
exists.

Rob

If it *is* possible to pull new cable, than that's the best.

Find out where it goes, and do some experimental tugs to see how easily
it moves. If it takes great force, then I'd not try to pull a new run
at all, because it will pull apart at the pont of maximum inconvenience
at some restriction deep inside the wall cavity.

If it pulls easily, then pull then new cable directly, don't use a string.

Splice the new to old by chopping the L, N and E at staggerd lengths,
and linking them by making twisted loops like a chain, and tape the
whole thing up. Aim to make the splice no fatter than the original
cable, and of similar profile. That's important! A smear of vaseline
over the splice may help too. Have a helper 'feed' the cable in one
end whilst you pull on the other. If it jams, pull it back and make
repeated attempts, don't just force it.

--
Ron

On Apr 26, 10:15*pm, Ron Lowe wrote:
On 26/04/2011 18:06, robgraham wrote:









It's possibly better not to say how this occurred as it is a long
story, but I knicked a cable to a socket this morning using my Bosch
multitool causing a flash/bang, a buggered blade and irritatingly a
remarkably neat little cut in the cable.

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? *I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

Having been stymied on that job - this is my daughter's house I'm
working on - I went off to look at a socket moving she wants and
that's going to have to a rewiring of the ring, so the same problem
exists.

Rob

If it *is* possible to pull new cable, than that's the best.

Find out where it goes, and do some experimental tugs to see how easily
it moves. * If it takes great force, then I'd not try to pull a new run
at all, because it will pull apart at the pont of maximum inconvenience
at some restriction deep inside the wall cavity.

If it pulls easily, then pull then new cable directly, don't use a string..

Splice the new to old by chopping the L, N and E at staggerd lengths,
and linking them by making twisted loops like a chain, and tape the
whole thing up. * Aim to make the splice no fatter than the original
cable, and of similar profile. * That's important! * A smear of vaseline
over the splice may help too. * Have a helper 'feed' the cable in one
end whilst you pull on the other. * If it jams, pull it back and make
repeated attempts, don't just force it.

--
Ron

Thanks guys - the damaged cable is definitely a replacement as there
is just no access to the damaged section. I hadn't thought of the
staggered lengths idea, that's helpful; thanks. Certainly this cable
is free along it's length now that I have dug it out from it's
plastered over channel in the wall - fortunately it's a spur. I only
hope the extension to the ring elsewhere in the house will be as
obliging.
Rob

On Apr 26, 6:06 pm, robgraham wrote:

So it's got to be replaced - the question is do the collective reckon
it is better to pull the old cable out trailing in a bit of tough
string to pull the new one in, or just attached the new cable to the
old and do the heave-ho ? I know it's possibly horses for courses but
what;s the general opinion?

If I'm not sure how it'll turn out I do both. Connect the two cables
together with the intention of that working, but also attach string to
the cable being removed so if the cables do detach I can at least then
continue pulling the old cable out with the string attached. There are
no guarantees you'll end up better off but you've at least got that
piece of string routed for the full length thus potentially giving
some more options to ponder over.

It has worked for me on several occasions, and usually ends up with me
attaching the routed string to a metal cable puller and pulling that
back through so I can give the new cable another attempt.

I tend to repeat this method for all cable pulling jobs - I've got a
whole network of string through the nooks and crannies in this house
and have made some use of them long after I otherwise thought I'd
finished.

Mathew

On Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:15:21 +0100, Ron Lowe wrote:

Splice the new to old by chopping the L, N and E at staggerd lengths,
and linking them by making twisted loops like a chain, and tape the
whole thing up.

WTF! You need a proper mechanical joint of somesort not just twisted
together and taped. Proper crimp, soldered or a screw terminal.

Aim to make the splice no fatter than the original cable, and of similar
profile. That's important! A smear of vaseline over the splice may
help too.

Ah joining *JUST FOR PULLING* not as the final electrical connection.
Phew!

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 27/04/2011 10:12, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:15:21 +0100, Ron Lowe wrote:

Splice the new to old by chopping the L, N and E at staggerd lengths,
and linking them by making twisted loops like a chain, and tape the
whole thing up.

WTF! You need a proper mechanical joint of somesort not just twisted
together and taped. Proper crimp, soldered or a screw terminal.

Aim to make the splice no fatter than the original cable, and of similar
profile. That's important! A smear of vaseline over the splice may
help too.

Ah joining *JUST FOR PULLING* not as the final electrical connection.
Phew!



Well, duhh.... :-)

Why would you want to make an electrical connection to the bit of old
wire you are removing?

Glad you saw what I meant.
I suppose I could have been clearer.

When making a purely mechanical splice for pulling-thru, it needs to be
surprisingly strong and non-fat to survive that ticklish bit where it
pulls through a drilling in a joist etc, lest you end up with it parting
in the middle...

--
Ron

On Apr 27, 7:44*pm, Ron Lowe wrote:
On 27/04/2011 10:12, Dave Liquorice wrote:









On Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:15:21 +0100, Ron Lowe wrote:

Splice the new to old by chopping the L, N and E at staggerd lengths,
and linking them by making twisted loops like a chain, and tape the
whole thing up.

WTF! You need a proper mechanical joint of somesort not just twisted
together and taped. Proper crimp, soldered or a screw terminal.

Aim to make the splice no fatter than the original cable, and of similar
profile. * That's important! * A smear of vaseline over the splice may
help too.

Ah joining *JUST FOR PULLING* not as the final electrical connection.
Phew!

Well, duhh.... :-)

Why would you want to make an electrical connection to the bit of old
wire you are removing?

Glad you saw what I meant.
I suppose I could have been clearer.

When making a purely mechanical splice for pulling-thru, it needs to be
surprisingly strong and non-fat to survive that ticklish bit where it
pulls through a drilling in a joist etc, lest you end up with it parting
in the middle...

--
Ron

The first episode went fine - the further episodes have fortunately
been delayed by agreeing with the applicable daughter that a major re-
wire of that bit of the upstairs is needed if she wants dividing walls
removed, etc.
Thanks for the recommendations - I suppose offsetting the joints is
obvious, but although I'd pulled easy cables through before, this one
had the potential to go wrong - fortunately it didn't.
Rob