mice damage - testing conduit

[jennysweetland]

During a remodel I found evidence of mice and conduit without insulation. All damaged conduit was replaced and an exterminator hired to erradicate the mice and seal entry points. It is possible that other conduit - not yet discovered - has been compromised. How do I test for this? Is the use of a megohmmeter reliable to test the insulation on existing conduit?

 

[charlie b]

This thread had been closed. This action was taken because it appeared to be an attempt by a person who is not an electrician to obtain "how-to" information.

In an exchange of Private Messages, the Original Poster has provided assurances that this is not the case. The OP stated that he does employ an electrician to support his projects, and is merely seeking information to assist them both in future troubleshooting efforts. Therefore, the thread is being reopened. I offer an apology to the OP for the inconvenience and the delay.

 

[ceb58]

During a remodel I found evidence of mice and conduit without insulation. All damaged conduit was replaced and an exterminator hired to erradicate the mice and seal entry points. It is possible that other conduit - not yet discovered - has been compromised. How do I test for this? Is the use of a megohmmeter reliable to test the insulation on existing conduit?

What type of conduit?

 

[renosteinke]

I will assume that the OP means 'cable' where he says 'conduit.' Otherwise, the post just does not make any sense.

First, I heartily encourage the pre-emptory use of either a Critter Abatement Technician (CAT) or, if you prefer,a FEline Replacement Rodent Eliminating Technician (FERRET).

Now that the damage is done, it's a judgement call. A megger can be a help,but it's no guarantee. Mice are quite capable of stripping the insulation without placing the wires into contact with anything else- making it possible to 'fool' the megger. Still, it's better than nothing, and may uncover other problems. A lot hinges on the scale of your problem and the nature of your inaccessible locations.

Another little detail is the age of your wiring. At some unknown date, cable manufacturers stopped making the plastics from soybean oil -which was the reason mice found the stuffso tasty. Since then the problem has been reduced. Still, since you already have a problem, I would want to change the wiring method to something with a STEEL covering. (Mice will chew on aluminum too). I would also want a real ground wire (as opposed to a 'bonding strip' in the jacket).