I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

On Tuesday 28 January 2014 22:10 R D S wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If the job is permanant, don't be cheap ;-

Cable is not *that* expensive.

OTOH, a temporary wiring job is another matter.

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal
coverage

On 28/01/2014 22:10, R D S wrote:
I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?


What's the length of the lease on the shop?

In article ,
R D S writes:
I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

You would be assuming it was good to start with, was installed without
any damage, wasn't damaged in use, and most questionable of all, wasn't
damaged during removal.

So unless you were in control of all those processes and can vouch for
it, I would say it's probably not a good idea. I have done it only very
occasionally, and AFAICR, only used it to strip short lengths of singles
from.

I've seen electricians take away long lengths of thick SWA to reuse,
but T&E isn't anywhere near as expensive.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
R D S writes:
I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

You would be assuming it was good to start with, was installed without
any damage, wasn't damaged in use, and most questionable of all,
wasn't damaged during removal.

So unless you were in control of all those processes and can vouch for
it, I would say it's probably not a good idea. I have done it only
very occasionally, and AFAICR, only used it to strip short lengths of
singles from.

I know the the OP is talking about no more than 10 metre runs and that the
cable will not be plastered over. So in this case I would say reuse the old
stuff, if he needs to replace the old cable because there is a problem then
is easy to do so.

This is a one off case of suggesting the reuse of T&E. It is not often I
would suggest resusing it.



I've seen electricians take away long lengths of thick SWA to reuse,

I guess that the 80m of SWA in the unit that we reuse - if laid from end to
end every time we use it - is now long enough to reach France

--

Adam

On 28/01/2014 22:10, R D S wrote:
I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

Only if you have to, and are sure its in decent condition. Its also
slower and harder to work with stuff you can just pull off a reel.

Take great care doing insulation resistance tests at the end as well to
make sure its working to spec. (it will only take one failure to make
the cost saving redundant).

You would do better buying new and weighing in the old stuff at a
scrappie IMHO


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:10:04 +0000 (UTC), R D S wrote:

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

Old or new colours...

--
Cheers
Dave.

In article o.uk,
"Dave Liquorice" writes:
On Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:10:04 +0000 (UTC), R D S wrote:

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

Old or new colours...

I preferentially use whatever it's already wired up with,
but would never use old colours in an installation which
didn't already use them.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

"R D S" wrote in message
...
I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

And you will have to make sure the electricity runs in the same direction as
before.
Baz

I had a bad experience a couple of years ago, when an 80ft length of
2.5 T & E went leaky after 20 years of usage. The cable registered 2M
Ohm between conductors open circuit and this was enough to blow fuses
inexplicably. I guess it was breaking down if there was a mains
transient with a high enough voltage. So, I wouldn't reuse cable.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt guarantee no problems in future, nothing does. Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause insulation fails.


NT

In message ,
writes
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does. Running old cable
through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause insulation fails.


NT
Does the T&E outer coating go brittle if exposed to light for a
substantial period?
--
bert

On Saturday, February 1, 2014 8:56:59 PM UTC, bert wrote:
In message ,
writes


What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does. Running old cable
through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause insulation fails.

Does the T&E outer coating go brittle if exposed to light for a
substantial period?

IME this issue is much overstated. Even cable left in full sunlight for 30yrs is usually fine.


NT

On Sunday 02 February 2014 13:34 wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On Saturday, February 1, 2014 8:56:59 PM UTC, bert wrote:
In message ,
writes


What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that
doesnt guarantee no problems in future, nothing does. Running old
cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause insulation
fails.

Does the T&E outer coating go brittle if exposed to light for a
substantial period?

IME this issue is much overstated. Even cable left in full sunlight
for 30yrs is usually fine.


NT

But not always.

I can point to a bit of similar age that was manky as hell after being
suspended between trees in the full sun.
--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal
coverage

On 02/02/2014 13:34, wrote:
On Saturday, February 1, 2014 8:56:59 PM UTC, bert wrote:
In message ,
writes


What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does. Running old cable
through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause insulation fails.

Does the T&E outer coating go brittle if exposed to light for a
substantial period?

IME this issue is much overstated. Even cable left in full sunlight for 30yrs is usually fine.

It really does depend on the actual cable I find (as in brand etc rather
than size). I have seen some that has lasted for decades tied to a
suspension wire in full sun, and yet have also noted some PVC clad cable
that was crazed all over with fine splits visible after less than 5 years.



--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

I'm wiring up some sockets in a shop, I have a pile of cable from the
previous sockets that i've removed.

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does.



Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause
insulation fails.

Is this for real or are you ****ed?


--
Adam

On Sunday, February 2, 2014 6:03:42 PM UTC, adam @blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does.

Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause
insulation fails.

Is this for real or are you ****ed?

I run lots of electrical stuff thru a dishwasher. Water washing is standard practice in the electronics industry now.

Note to any lurking wallies that might be out the not everything is suitable, closed containers must be opened afterwards, and enough time given for ever trace of water in every crevice to disappear.


NT

In article ,
scribeth thus
On Sunday, February 2, 2014 6:03:42 PM UTC, adam @blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that doesnt
guarantee no problems in future, nothing does.

Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can cause
insulation fails.

Is this for real or are you ****ed?



This isn't a new thing. Waay back Tektronix were washing their scopes
returned for service, but they did have a very good drying system seeing
that EHT generation was in use for scope tubes;!.,..



I run lots of electrical stuff thru a dishwasher. Water washing is standard
practice in the electronics industry now.

Note to any lurking wallies that might be out the not everything is suitable,
closed containers must be opened afterwards, and enough time given for ever
trace of water in every crevice to disappear.


NT


--
Tony Sayer

On 03/02/2014 09:54, wrote:
On Sunday, February 2, 2014 6:03:42 PM UTC, adam @blueyonder.co.uk
wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:

What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that
doesnt guarantee no problems in future, nothing does.

Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can
cause insulation fails.

Is this for real or are you ****ed?

I run lots of electrical stuff thru a dishwasher. Water washing is
standard practice in the electronics industry now.

True, nut not my primary concern in this case...

Cables are supposed to be sealed - nothing you put on the outside of the
outer insulation should reduce the insulation resistance measured
between the enclosed conductors. If it does, then it suggests that the
outer sheath is physically damaged somewhere.

Note to any lurking wallies that might be out the not everything
is suitable, closed containers must be opened afterwards, and enough
time given for ever trace of water in every crevice to disappear.

You also need to take care with the detergent used - some dishwasher
detergents are pretty aggressive chemically, and some are also abrasive.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Monday, February 3, 2014 5:15:58 PM UTC, John Rumm wrote:
On 03/02/2014 09:54, wrote:
On Sunday, February 2, 2014 6:03:42 PM UTC, adam @blueyonder.co.uk
wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 10:10:04 PM UTC, R D S wrote:


What's the consensus on reusing the cable?

If you've got a megger & it passes, no problem. Of course that
doesnt guarantee no problems in future, nothing does.

Running old cable through the dishwasher removes dirt that can
cause insulation fails.

Is this for real or are you ****ed?

I run lots of electrical stuff thru a dishwasher. Water washing is
standard practice in the electronics industry now.

True, nut not my primary concern in this case...
Cables are supposed to be sealed - nothing you put on the outside of the
outer insulation should reduce the insulation resistance measured
between the enclosed conductors. If it does, then it suggests that the
outer sheath is physically damaged somewhere.

Cable insulation can fail because:
a) surface dirt running between conductors at a cut end
b) puncture that can let in water
c) pvc deterioration

a) is usually solved by dishwashing
b) is revealed by dishwashing, it will cause it to fail testing
c) is rare, dishwashing makes no difference.

Clean cable is far nicer to work with & looks decent.


Note to any lurking wallies that might be out the not everything
is suitable, closed containers must be opened afterwards, and enough
time given for ever trace of water in every crevice to disappear.

You also need to take care with the detergent used - some dishwasher
detergents are pretty aggressive chemically, and some are also abrasive.

I use any & every brand, and have never had plastic damage from any.


NT

On 2014-02-03, John Rumm wrote:

On 03/02/2014 09:54, wrote:

Note to any lurking wallies that might be out the not everything
is suitable, closed containers must be opened afterwards, and enough
time given for ever trace of water in every crevice to disappear.

You also need to take care with the detergent used - some dishwasher
detergents are pretty aggressive chemically, and some are also abrasive.

I'm looking forward to the "which?" report on best detergents for
cleaning electronics in the dishwasher.