Using old meter cable to shed

[JohnD]

Here is the photo- you can just about make out the earth

It looks like modern brown and blue SWA in that pic.

 

[Risteard]

It looks like modern brown and blue SWA in that pic.

My guess would be an old RYB cable.

 

[SUNRAY]

Making some very crude comparisons in Paint I see the red wire is a little under half the size of the water pipe, I'll guess ~6mm which would make it at least 6mm² and possibly 10mm²

The outer sheath is ~1.5 times the water pipe so ~22mm. From this excerpt of more modern (and thinner) cables

I'd say at least 6mm² and potentially 10mm². However taking into consideration camera angle and parrallax etc I'll say needs proper onsite investigation for suitability.

It looks like modern brown and blue SWA in that pic.

Specsavers time, the yellow to go with the red & blue is clearly there.

 

[Murdochcat]

Here is the photo- you can just about make out the earth

Sure there might be a 3rd core there but there’s no guarantee it’s connected to anything

My advice is to get a spark in to give you a quote to do it properly

You’ve mentioned shed electrics and an EV charger …..

 

[roboputt]

Thanks everyone - whatever the case, the time and help given especially above is great.

We're redoing a bathroom (still, 12 months on) which will need an electrician to sign off, so will disconnect and wait until then. I don't want to waste someone's time or pay them only to be told the obvious which is that it's a long shot of using the cable or the channel it is in.

I did wonder if I could pull through one of the cores and then the others to effectively make it into a conduit to then pass a line through, but then you can't be sure the armoring is ok... The EV next to the house isn't a huge bother, but as others have said here, the lack of earth is a problem and even if I hooked that up, it would need a new circuit to the RCD which involves an electrician visit.

Thanks all - seriously great advice and also much info I never had before (including the fact this is definitely not 25mm2!)

 

[Ragnar_AT]

Can you see the cable on the other side of that wall? That would allow an electrician to cut back the frayed end and terminate properly.

 

[roboputt]

Yes, there isn't a huge amount of slack in it, but you could pull it out and possibly put a weatherproof junction box on the outside wall? They obviously cut it off close to the wall so it didn't stick out, though why they left the red and blue... Indicates they were still thinking of using it.

I guess one of my questions is:
Can a sparky test the cable to ensure it is intact?
If they can't see where it is laid (it's pretty obvious there was a 1 foot concrete channel laid a long time ago) - would that mean they wouldn't touch it?

If the answer is yes to the first, and no to the second, it feels worthwhile pursuing...

 

[Ragnar_AT]

Yes, insulation resistance and continuity tests should give a spark a decent idea whether the cable is good or not.

 

[securespark]

That cable looks to me like RWB. Not RYB.