Attaching a mouse line to cable?

[Richard10002]

Hi,

Is a mouse just another name for thin string? I have a long roll of orange nylon string which I use for feeding ropes down the boom and from cockpit to mast - if so, what is the best/recommended method of securing the mouse line to a cable.

I am thinking of using the existing VHF cable to draw a few "mice" down the mast conduit, and using them to pull through the VHF cable, along with a TV aerial cable and a new VHF cable for an AIS thing which I may fit in the future.

Many Thanks

Richard

 

[Salty John]

I tie the string to the cable with a rolling hitch and then cover the knot with a piece of duct tape, moulding the tape over the joint to give a streamlined shape.

 

[davidpbo]

For electrical installation work I use a rolling hitch when I can remember how to to do one, or clove hitches or a series of half hitches spread out 1/2 inch or so how many depending on the likely pull force to be exerted. A rolling hitch should be fine for the likely force to be exerted. I would also tape the draw cord to the cable.Try and form a cone where the draw cord leaves the cable to be pulled through and smoothly tape that end.

Runing in multiple cables I would be tempted to tape/tie them together with the ends staggered and pull them along with a new draw cord as one as this would be lest likely to fowl IMHO, also depends on whether they have the same entrances and exits.

Make sure whoever is feeding in keeps the lay of the cables the same on the way in. You may not want to tape the cables together at 500mm intervals as this would make it impossible to replace one on its own if it failed, however it may make it easier to pull in additional cables as the draw cord would be less likely to hav e become tangle inside the conduit.

David

 

[Guest]

I try not to have mouse line at side of cable .... as a rolling hitch etc. will do - meaning that cable width is increased by hitch. This often causes lock-outs at corners / exits etc.

My preferred way with eletrical cable is to strip a decent length of insulator ...... literally tie the mouse line and wires together and then twist the wires back on themselevs as a locking measure. Then its insulating tape wound on very tight to taper the joint and allow it to "flow" round / through the run you intend.

Done carefully it is strong, no more thickness than the cable.....

 

[davidpbo]

[ QUOTE ]
I try not to have mouse line at side of cable

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with small boat champ on that and do strip the cable back and attach as suggested when space is restricted. It also helps when pulling the cable around bends, but care needs to be taken that the cores are A) strong enough B) not likely to strained by the experience.

David