Flexible cable armouring solutions

[Deadly Wonky]

Hi everyone,

 

We have a semi permanant monitoring installation that is running 100m and 300m cable runs to microphones, we have been having some problems with rabbits or similar creatures nibbling through the cables . Does anyone on the forum have any suggestions for armouring methods to prevent similar broken cables?

 

Criterion are waterproof, low cost, can be installed by one individual (me) and can fit in the back of a small ish car.

 

new cables are required anyway, so replacing existing cables with some form of flexible armored cable is an option but I don't know if such a cable exists.

 

all ideas gratefully accepted.

 

Tom

 

 

PS burying the cables is not an option.

[Andrew C]

Canford do this, it isn't mic cable but they may be able to help. That or Copex tube.

[boatman]

Something from the Elmeridge range should do the trick.

 

Of course the usual caveat applies, "Cheap" and "Good" are unlikely to be adjectives appropriate to the same product.

[timtheenchanteruk]

it exists somewhere, studiospares sell these

armoured mic cable, a bit short for what you need, but would certainly stop the rodents, try asking them where they get the cable?

[cedd]

Split copex is expensive. Buy the non-split stuff and do it yourself with a stanley knife, seemed to work out much cheaper for us! I'd use it for more than one cable, otherwise it'll be very bulky.

[chelgrian]

but would certainly stop the rodents

 

IMLE nothing stops rats however stainless steel braid armoured cable will certainly slow them down. I love Canford's comment

 

"More complex constructions are needed to achieve resistance to rodents (sheep are quite nice really!)"

[Jivemaster]

Rodents used to eat lead (Pb) sheathed cable so I doubt that any sheathing will be rodent proof and flexible. Rodent resistance may be possible.

[Andrew C]

I read somewhere that the railways have their cables filled with poison. So when the rats DO eat them, they become ex-rats and stop breeding!

[Neil Hampson]

Try looking at industial instrumentation cables rather than standard microphone cable suppliers, most analogue instrumentation cable will be electrically similar to the microphone cable, Steel wire or braid armours are common within industrial applications, most companies do a rodent proof version of the popular cable such as a single twisted screened pair. I do remember having to have a 3 mile length made up for a customer in Suadi that was to be Rodent AND camel proof.. A lot of these cables have an extra layer under the PVC that most rodents don't like, for the more persistant this layer is also poisonous to most small animals.

 

Anixter cables are our usual supplier ad are generally very helpful. Shame I can't attach a PDF for you as I've looked at this type of cable before...

 

Another route would be Kopex or similar flexible steel conduit. Kopex is very expensive, RS do a nice selection from the Adaptorflex range though that is much cheaper but I'm not sure you will be able to feed the cable through a full 100m run.

[Robin Pratt]

Dould CW1128/1198 spec steel wire armoured telecom cable do the job? It is available in up to 200pair, and in very long lengths, but I'm not sure if the crosstalk performance would be up to your needs.....