We all know that when cables, whether used at home or in commercial applications, deteriorate, continued use can easily pose a danger. However, inspecting wires for deterioration requires a certain level of skill. Wires rely primarily on an outer sheath for insulation. Over time, corrosive gases corrode the insulation, gradually degrading it. This insulation gradually ages, hardens, becomes brittle, or even peels off, effectively losing its insulating function. The direct cause of wire and cable failure is insulation breakdown due to degraded insulation. Here are two tips on how to determine if wires are deteriorating, allowing for timely inspections and eliminating safety hazards.
How to inspect wires for deterioration?
1. "Inspect the wire along its surface for darkening, hardening, and cracks. Bend the wire with your hands and find stiffness, cracks, and loose coating." This refers to inspecting the insulation along the wire. If the insulation appears dull, dark, hard, cracked, or partially peeled, it indicates varying degrees of deterioration.
If the wire is stiff when bent with your hands, or if the insulation cracks or peels off, it indicates severe or even severe deterioration.
2. "Accurately measure insulation, with a minimum of two megohms. The value can be lower on rainy and humid days, and the value can be reduced by half." This means that an insulation resistance meter can be used to accurately determine the insulation condition of electrical circuits.
Different circuits have different tolerances for insulation. For example, the insulation resistance of a 220V household circuit in use must not be lower than 0.22 megohms; the value should not be lower than 0.1 megohms on rainy and humid days. If the measured insulation resistance value is lower than this, it indicates a problem with the electrical circuit insulation. Of course, the service life of cables varies under different usage conditions, so you need to handle it based on your individual needs!
How to deal with aging wires?
Most lighting wiring is directly fixed to the top with plaster powder, so it is directly pulled along the groove to the wall. Concealed conduit along the wall is laid directly to the base box, allowing the wires to be directly pulled out and replaced. This allows for targeted solutions based on different causes, such as aging lighting wiring, aging socket wiring, and aging air conditioner wiring.
1. Aging of lighting wiring
Most lighting wiring is fixed directly to the top with plaster, so it can be directly "pulled" along the groove to the wall. Concealed pipes along the wall are laid directly to the base box, allowing the wires to be pulled out and replaced. Later, the plaster and putty can be applied with latex paint. Some developers also leave the lighting wiring in the pipes as live wires, which can be directly replaced.
2. Aging of socket wiring.
If the socket wiring is aged, such as burnt or scorched, if it still works properly, you can cut off the aged portion and replace the socket wiring. If the entire wiring is aged, you can "borrow" the wiring from the nearest socket. Removing floor tiles between nearby sockets is time-consuming and laborious, so it's better to use exposed wiring.
3. Aging of air conditioner wiring.
Due to the high power consumption of air conditioners, the wiring will age relatively quickly. If damaged, it is recommended to use exposed wiring, running the wiring along the roof of the house from the distribution box.
4. Damaged main wiring in the distribution box.
Developers typically use a live-wire method when installing the main wiring in distribution boxes. Simply contact the property management for replacement.
This is a simple guide on how to check for aging wiring and what to do. I hope it's helpful. Severely aging wiring in your home can be very dangerous. Excessive electricity use can cause sparks, resulting in short circuits and tripping fuses, disrupting your electricity use. Even more seriously, a short circuit can cause a fire, potentially destroying your home and all your belongings, and potentially affecting neighbors. Replace old wiring promptly to prevent fires.
