Re-wiring a socket question

[robgraham]

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

[Tabby]

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

[jgharston]

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

[Ron Lowe]

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.

[robgraham]

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

[Mathew Newton]

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

[Dave Liquorice]

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

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

[Ron Lowe]

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...

[robgraham]

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