Bank holiday blunder........

[Bluemac]

Trying to give the fishpond in the garden its annual m.o.t. (bl**dy bank holidays) and I seem to have cut through the electric cable of the submersible pump! Not right through, you understand, just cut the plastic casing about half of the circumference, and nicked one of the three wires inside. If I do nothing and just put the pump back in the water, will all the fish and taddies float up to the surface electrocuted?

How do I mend the cable in a waterproof sort of way, or does it mean a new pump?

Please answer quietly so SWMBO does not hear! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bergman]

2 to 1 chance for fishies

If earth or neutral fishies should survive if live er well could be a fish supper.

Not sure how you mend it perhaps some waterproof tape and a tiny bit of Sikaflex.

Although if you have used a RCB and it hasn't tripped you and fishies should be ok.

 

[hlb]

Only thing I can think of is, stick a big wad of silicone sealer around the cut.

 

[studgies]

There is also heat shrink tubing that has a resin impregnated in it that seals to the wires insulation

 

[Solitaire]

I've done the same thing in the past. You can buy a waterproof connector from pool supply shops. They are plastic with an O ring and a screw connector to joing the male and female parts together (no comments on the use of words here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

 

[starboard]

If its low voltage 12v I would not be too concerned. If you can run some heat shrink down the cable do so, if not crimp some bullet connectors on, a little silicone grease over the joint and it will last till the next time you manage to bodge it.

Paul.

 

[Talbot]

superglue is the answer here, it will seal the cable back together, you could then run a few turns of self amalgamating tape around it to make absolutely certain that all was well.

 

[Bluemac]

Thanks to all who responded. Surrounded the offending nick with some leaky radiator sealant silicony stuff, and once it had set bound the cable with waterproof inulating tape. Seems to have done the trick - waterfall now working and fish still not cooked. Mind you I don't think I'll put my hand in the water just in case!