ADVICE PLEASE - SURFACE CONDUIT SYSTEM FOR REWIRE 3 BED SEMI FRC

[marconi]

I am heading off next week to visit my parents (84 and 83). They live in a nicely decorated and carpeted 3 bed semi with original wiring from 1965.

I noticed last time I visited they have the dreaded green goo in the 7/029 wiring. The 1/044 lighting does not have it. They only have one or two single un-switched sockets in each room apart from kitchen and side extension which are all new and on separate circuits to the original sockets.

The advice I am seeking is on a good, neat, easy to install surface conduit system to contain wiring for new radials/rings upstairs and downstairs in the 3 bedrooms, hall, landing, lounge and dining room. I can then present it to my father and explain the benefits and ease of installation. Neither would cope with floorboards being lifted and walls chased. He is a chemist and read what it says about green goo so I don't need to convince him it's time to re-wire and at the same time to add more handy sockets higher up.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Dodgy cable I reckon....look at the neutrals, they appear unaffected.
I’ve seen a similar effect on LSF t&e wired in some 2D fluorescent dish style light fittings. The heat had turned the red cable insulation pink/white and was brittle, the black cables were unaffected yet were exposed to the same elements.

 

[telectrix]

those pics are a conundrum. it's not green goo. the exposed copper is oxidised.there must be some other explanation. green goo syndrome has never been seen since the advent of solid core metric T/E.

 

[dksanders]

those pics are a conundrum. it's not green goo. the exposed copper is oxidised.there must be some other explanation. green goo syndrome has never been seen since the advent of solid core metric T/E.

I have to disagree there, all the green goo i've come across has been in solid T&E, I think I've only ever found it in twisted once or twice. The green copper is from the goo forming from the inside out, not oxidisation, the splits opened up as I pulled the plate away, as I said the smell was a dead give away. And as seen in the other picture where the goo was very visible, these were all from the same installation, wired at the same time, when the PVC plasticiser was at fault so quite likely for most of the cables to be effected as shown.

On one switch, as I pulled the plate away from the wall, the core insulation just fell off in big pieces it was so brittle.

 

[marconi]

Update - I visited my father and went through this thread with him. Three stage approach - a friend in his angling club is an electrician and will ask him to do or someone he recommends to do an EICR. Then he will get some estimates of what the outlay and disruption will be. Then we will have another chat. Progress.