Replies

1. 
   gfretwell | Apr 16, 2013 09:35am | #1

   Once you pierce the insulation, it is not waterproof anymore. Eventually enought water will get in there to corrode the wire away. How long depends on where you live (soil, amount of rain, humidity etc)

1. 
   Hokuto | Apr 16, 2013 09:49am | #2

   piercing

   Thanks, Greg. My problem is, I can't see how those quick clip connectors were ever waterproof, even when first installed.

2. 
   junkhound | Apr 16, 2013 12:10pm | #3

   Reuse it.

   If ya gotta go underground, glop some roofing cement on the pierced spots. 

   I have some old frayed extension cords buried for power to sheds, covered the bare spots with roof tar, some are now 40 years old, no problems.

   Even though bare copper in the ground usually would not corrode, the main concern in soil (other than physical damage) is a bare spot will be subject to electrolysis and can eat thru the wire in a matter of only a few days.  

   So, dont miss getting a tar covering on any spot on the wires you bury.

1. 
   Hokuto | Apr 16, 2013 06:23pm | #4

   Thanks, jh. Just about what I was thinking.

3. 
   DanH | Apr 16, 2013 08:53pm | #5

   Yeah, I'd agree with JH on this -- use a good, gloppy coating of some sort on the pierced spots that get buried, to prevent electrolysis.  Roofing glop is probably good.

1. 
   Hokuto | Apr 16, 2013 10:20pm | #6

   Thanks, Dan

   Don't have any roofing glop, and wouldn't know what it's called in Japanese if I had to buy some. I'll probably use some kind of  synthetic caulk--which is easily available. Once I get the cable stretched out an in position, I don't anticiate much movement.

1. 
   DanH | Apr 16, 2013 10:46pm | #7

   The problem with caulk is that it doesn't stay gooey. But whatever you can find.

4. 
   Hokuto | Apr 17, 2013 05:51am | #8

   Thanks for the Japanese lesson, jh :)

   I didn't have much luck with ordinary タール in google; almost all the returns were references to "coal tar" which may be the same thing, and I do think I've seen it for sale in home centers, but only in large, 16-liter cans. (http://www.komeri.com/images/goods/000/554/89/55489.jpg). In fact, that's the problem with all these things; I need a few ounces to cover tiny holes in the cables, but the glop to cover the holes only comes in jumbo sized cans. But I'll wager that in cases not exposed to movement, a silicon caulk/sealant will work equally well.