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Electrical

Degraded insulation in loft - Indication of bigger problem?

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.05 PM

Hi, Been in my loft and seen a 4 way junction box with one cable with next to no outer sheath or individual insulation right near the hatch - Damned lucky I didn't touch it. There's bare wires next to each other, think I may have disturbed them as we've got some lights that are flickering now, on the side of the house that run appeared to go to. Obviously a concern - Could be old rubber cable that's given up (house is 1950s) considering it appears to be 2 core that's a fair indication of age? If I get an electrician around are they likely to tell me I need to get all these wires out and replaced with some modern ones? Edit 1: One poster asked about a consumer unit - Brand new as of 2017 and I have the certificate from the installation, was done by previous owners when the kitchen was updated. Edit 2: Certificate says details of installation: New consumer unit, new cooker circuit, alterations to kitchen sockets and new light fittings in the kitchen. For the circuit details on consumer unit it states Upstairs lighting as A type cable (thermoplastic insulated/sheathed cables) so unless I've got a lot of different types of wiring throughout this could be incorrect? Edit 3: Last update I think, Insulation on both lighting circuit is 25 M ohms compared to 500 on everything else. Turns out we have a sparky at work and he looked over the certificate for me and I've got twin and earth recorded for everything at the CU so there's a change somewhere that looks to be primarily lighting. Gives me a good place to point a local domestic to look into Thanks all!

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7 Answers

Alan Bohee Electrical

Rating: 5 out of 5
Retford
You need to get a competent electrician to inspect the wiring and advise you. If as you say there are bare cables and possibly rubber sheathed cables then a rewire be would recommended
Answered20 November 2019
2

DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Rating: 5 out of 5
Grimsby
Get an electrician in to do an EICR. Electrical Installation Condition Report. It will either pass or fail, but by the sounds of it it will fail. Then take it from there. My edit... so if you have got a certificate, what does it cover? The kitchen? Rest of the installation? It should say. Was the board changed in 2017? Or kitchen circuit lashed up to existing RCD board?
Answered20 November 2019
2

dminstallations

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Garndolbenmaen
In short, probably. If there is old rubber insulated cable in place, it is likely to be well beyond it's serviceable life. Also, there is probably no earth wire CPC) in the lighting circuit(s), which wasn't a requirement until later versions of the regulations came in. Get an electrician to look at it ASAP, they will be able to advise properly, we can only make assumptions bases on your description, good luck In light of the updates, definitely get it looked at and tested properly, the important thing to look at on your certificate is the insulation resistance readings, they will usually be very poor with rubber insulation, compare them with the figures given for the new circuits
Answered20 November 2019
1

JK Electrical Contractors

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Carlisle
This sounds like the old rubber cabling which needs to be replaced as it's very brittle and potentially dangerous. Also if the cable has only 2 cores then there isn't an earth core. So if there is any metal sockets, switches or light fittings that are metal there could be potential of an electric shock if a fault occurs.
Answered19 November 2019
0

GSR ELECTRICAL WARRINGTON

Rating: 5 out of 5
Warrington
With what your explaining, I'm guessing you don't have an up to date consumer unit, as these wires would never pass an insulation resistance test, providing these wires are part of your circuit it sounds like a full rewire is in order
Answered19 November 2019
0

Eiffel Electrics Ltd

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Reading
Looking that installation is coming up 70 years, then i recommend full rewire. No point to do small repair, more problems will come up in long run hope it helped Regards vitor
Answered19 November 2019
0

Arc Electrical

Rating: 5 out of 5
Wigton
Yes, rubber dates to pre 1960's, also as you have already discovered there is no earth to your lighting circuit which was the standard then as most fittings were bakelite then, given that most people have metal plate light switches and light fittings, an earth is now essential. In answer to your question, any self respecting Electrician would certainly recommend a rewire as it is essential for continued Electrical safety and fire risk. Contact a registered Electrician to make sure you get Electrical certificate and building control certificate, now required by law.
Answered20 November 2019
0