Is 62 - Year Old Building Wire Still Good?

[ptonsparky]

A bolted fault is just that. Bolted.

Solid.

 

[Ravenvalor]

Thanks for all of the great help. I talked the customer into removing the wire and upgrading the outside service to 200-amps so that I can install a 4/0 SER AL cable across the carport ceiling and down into the basement where the new sub-panel is going.

 

[Frank DuVal]

Brief 100v Megger readings H-G can see end-of-service life for equipment that continuity testers can not.

That's funny! When in use it is 120 volts.... I do not call that a megger test for house wiring. Maybe a megger test for automotive work. Interesting to note, Megger has discontinued those really low voltage meggers, and now they go to 1 KV. You can still do 50 volts for electronic circuits.

600 Volt wire is good for more than 600 Volts for brief times, as a service factor is already in there. It does not fail at 700 volts.

 

[ramsy]

Megger has discontinued those really low voltage meggers

Nope! Megger's modern MIT 430/2 series still has 50v / 100v / 250v / 500v / 1kv.

600 Volt wire is good for more than 600 Volts for brief times, as a service factor is already in there. It does not fail at 700 volts.

Yes, manufacturers may even have a Hi-Pot test for new THWN in the 1kv range, but do you really expect 60yr-old rubber & cloth to survive 1500 volts, as suggested earlier?

 

[ptonsparky]

Nope! Megger's modern MIT 430/2 series still has 50v / 100v / 250v / 500v / 1kv.


Yes, manufacturers may even have a Hi-Pot test for new THWN in the 1kv range, but do you really expect 60yr-old rubber & cloth to survive 1500 volts, as suggested earlier?

Dry? Yup.