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water in an outdoor JB and effect on SWA glanded in on the lower edge

psychicwarrior

Outdoor electrics tripping out and located to a JB (above ground) with water in it  (not clear if its condensation [seemed a lot for that] or a failed stuffing gland on the top edge - favour the latter)

Box emptied and dried out.  however,  the outdoor SWA glands on the bottom edge were obviously soaked and water must have seeped down the 3-core (one as cpc) cable (which goes underground).  Armour tied to cpc at both ends.

Just curious on other folks experiences on whether cables ever dry out (to some / any extent)  and whether will perform fine for lifetime  ?

thank you

 

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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    I may have posted this before but during an inspection the installer took off the lid of a 3-ph DB to see a puddle of water in the bottom plate where the incoming SWA was glanded off. He immediately thought of it being a leak from the roof above but I suspected SWA cable damage where buried from the elevated supply source. On drying out the gland plate you could actually see the water rising through the gland. Somewhere upstream (sorry, couldn't resist it!) the SWA had been damaged (not buried in sand or a duct) and water was getting into the sheath and capillary took over.

    As to corrosion, the SWA wires are only zinc plated and will rust and eventually break. I stripped an old SWA to see how far water had gone and it was far beyond the concept of hairdryer use as I gave up after 25 m.

    Regards

    BOD

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  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    I may have posted this before but during an inspection the installer took off the lid of a 3-ph DB to see a puddle of water in the bottom plate where the incoming SWA was glanded off. He immediately thought of it being a leak from the roof above but I suspected SWA cable damage where buried from the elevated supply source. On drying out the gland plate you could actually see the water rising through the gland. Somewhere upstream (sorry, couldn't resist it!) the SWA had been damaged (not buried in sand or a duct) and water was getting into the sheath and capillary took over.

    As to corrosion, the SWA wires are only zinc plated and will rust and eventually break. I stripped an old SWA to see how far water had gone and it was far beyond the concept of hairdryer use as I gave up after 25 m.

    Regards

    BOD

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