Underground swa joint.

[Retroelectric]

Hi all.
Had to repair a underground swa cable at short notice this afternoon so just had what was on my van as wholesalers would be shut.
To get it back going I used some outdoor gland packs and crimped it in a whiska box.
It’s due to be replaced apparently but how good would that connection be underground if I filled it with gel and they covered it or should I just refit it with a torpedo?

 

[pc1966]

For sure a Whiska box is not rated for underground use!

I think they might make some products that are suitable, but I would be looking at replacing it with a Birkett torpedo-style joint before the ground is covered up again.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Buried should be a resin filled joint

that said i recently dug up some up swa that was buried and it had multiple buried joints using galv through boxes filled With some sort of gel and a gasket lid

they were still perfectly intact and no sign of moisture ingress

 

[SparkySy]

@Dustydazzler have seen a few underground repairs with through boxes and the old green potting compound in that have done very well considering!
@Retroelectric Wiska box definitely not a long term solution!
I had a digger go through this 35mm 4 core a couple of weeks ago, even out of hours my wholesalers went out of their way to get this out for me!

 

[timhoward]

Posted this before - a wet pants and a mini digger managed to mangle this one so badly two joints were needed. It even had cable bricks on top of it....

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I'd never have guessed what caused the cable damage if you hadn't mentioned it. Whenever there is a bang there is often a smoking water pipe.

 

[timhoward]

I'd never have guessed what caused the cable damage if you hadn't mentioned it. Whenever there is a bang there is often a smoking water pipe.

In this case when I first arrived the cable was rising from the lake saying "SAVE ME!!"

 

[pc1966]

In this case when I first arrived the cable was rising from the lake saying "SAVE ME!!"

Had they chopped a water pipe as well?

 

[Julie.]

So what appears to be the fault?

Can't a cable go for a swim without some busybody complaining about it?

 

[littlespark]

Live cable + puddle of water = Hottub!