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Author Topic: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable  (Read 6040 times)

Tim Hite

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Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« on: September 25, 2018, 03:27:16 AM »

Putting in a sound system outdoors in the desert. Rats or some other desert critter have already gotten in and eaten the insulation off clients appliances in outdoor kitchen.

Using MC for speaker wire, but need to cover some signal cables and an IEC power cable.

Stainless steel tech flex is $4/ft. . .

Anyone have a better chew proof solution?

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Will Knight

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2018, 06:57:51 AM »

Consider 1/4” or 1/2” PVC Tubing Or AFC Liquidtight conduit from your local big box store.  Weather and critter resistant, easy installation and if necessary, can be buried underground (check local code) to remove “unsightly lines”


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Keith Broughton

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2018, 07:33:02 AM »

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Erik Jerde

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2018, 07:40:15 AM »

Putting in a sound system outdoors in the desert. Rats or some other desert critter have already gotten in and eaten the insulation off clients appliances in outdoor kitchen.

Using MC for speaker wire, but need to cover some signal cables and an IEC power cable.

Stainless steel tech flex is $4/ft. . .

Anyone have a better chew proof solution?

You could try flexible metal conduit.  1/2” or 3/4”.  I’ve always heard that rats can chew through steel pipe so any solution may be temporary at best.
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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2018, 09:25:36 AM »

get a cat....? I have killed 5 squirrels so far this year (they eat my pecans).

JR
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Will Knight

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2018, 09:41:37 AM »

Need to learn how you trained them My cats ignore the squirrels.....as well as the raccoons.... possums...and almost everything else that’s not food related. Guess that’s what happens with “City” cats.


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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2018, 10:14:52 AM »

Need to learn how you trained them My cats ignore the squirrels.....as well as the raccoons.... possums...and almost everything else that’s not food related. Guess that’s what happens with “City” cats.


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No, I killed the squirrels with my 0.177 pellet rifle (GAMO). My neighbor has at least a half dozen cats and one or two are hunters. I see them lurking around. According to my neighbor they take down the occasional squirrel but my 5 dead squirrels were killed the old fashioned way.

Be careful about using rat poison, the rats tend to crawl up into hard to reach spaces to die, and continue to be pests long after they die. Dead squirrels smell bad too, fairly quickly.

While not all cats are hunters, I've seen them "play" with mice until they died. :o

JR
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Dave Garoutte

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2018, 11:55:44 AM »

My local squirrels torment my cat by playing chicken.
They climb down a tree nearby and taunt the cat to try and catch them.
Total cat frustration.
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Frank Koenig

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2018, 01:54:10 PM »

Rats or some other desert critter have already gotten in and eaten the insulation off clients appliances in outdoor kitchen.

PVC pipe or conduit is likely the least expensive solution. I've had considerable experience with critters large and small eating, or at least tasting, all sorts of human-made improvements at the Sierra Foothills place, but so far they have left the PVC pipe alone. Do not use polyethylene tubing. Some flavors are very attractive to the beasts. Good luck. --Frank
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Tim Hite

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2018, 05:14:02 PM »

Yes, this is what I'm using for speaker hook up.

I still need to cover an IEC mains cable from outlet to amplifier and I'm trying to find a solution for that issue. The IEC plug eon't fit down 3/4" conduit and I can't seal the end to keep stuff out.

Also can't seem to find cable ends to build my own out of the MC cable.

This might work, unless the critters have a "rat tail " file  ;D

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AFC-Cable-Systems-12-2-x-250-ft-BX-AC-90-Solid-Cable-1404N42-AFC/205070960
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Scott Holtzman

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2018, 06:30:30 PM »

Yes, this is what I'm using for speaker hook up.

I still need to cover an IEC mains cable from outlet to amplifier and I'm trying to find a solution for that issue. The IEC plug eon't fit down 3/4" conduit and I can't seal the end to keep stuff out.

Also can't seem to find cable ends to build my own out of the MC cable.

https://www.alliedelec.com/schurter-4782-0100/70080654/

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Erik Jerde

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2018, 01:49:28 AM »

Yes, this is what I'm using for speaker hook up.

I still need to cover an IEC mains cable from outlet to amplifier and I'm trying to find a solution for that issue. The IEC plug eon't fit down 3/4" conduit and I can't seal the end to keep stuff out.

Also can't seem to find cable ends to build my own out of the MC cable.

If you’re fine with the cable being outside other than the rats then it really shouldn’t matter if stuff gets in it.  For the IEC cable not fitting just chop off the Edison plug end and replace that after fishing through your armor of choice.  Leave the molded IEC alone.
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Tim Hite

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2018, 03:53:59 AM »

How'd you find that? Been looking for a couple days.

https://www.alliedelec.com/schurter-4782-0100/70080654/

Doh, I forgot cables have two ends.

If you’re fine with the cable being outside other than the rats then it really shouldn’t matter if stuff gets in it.  For the IEC cable not fitting just chop off the Edison plug end and replace that after fishing through your armor of choice.  Leave the molded IEC alone.
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Keith Broughton

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2018, 07:08:32 AM »

Yes, this is what I'm using for speaker hook up.


I didn't know what MC stood for. I know it as BX.
As suggested, plastic conduit may be the most cost effective solution.
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Tim Hite

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2018, 08:56:52 PM »

Similar but different, I guess. . .

http://www.ncwhomeinspections.com/BX+Cables+on+exterior+installations

Now that Scott found the magical missing piece for me I can just make up what I wanted.

I didn't know what MC stood for. I know it as BX.
As suggested, plastic conduit may be the most cost effective solution.
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Scott Holtzman

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2018, 10:37:24 PM »

Similar but different, I guess. . .

http://www.ncwhomeinspections.com/BX+Cables+on+exterior+installations

Now that Scott found the magical missing piece for me I can just make up what I wanted.

Cool, those are real useful for making all sorts of custom cables.  If they made lockers my life would be complete
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Rob Spence

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2018, 11:33:37 PM »

Yes, this is what I'm using for speaker hook up.

I still need to cover an IEC mains cable from outlet to amplifier and I'm trying to find a solution for that issue. The IEC plug eon't fit down 3/4" conduit and I can't seal the end to keep stuff out.

Also can't seem to find cable ends to build my own out of the MC cable.

I had some 2” pvc from my house out to the street for the cable company. I sealed up the end with an end cap that I drilled for the wire and cut a slot from the hole to one side. I slid it over the wire, then on to the pipe coming out of the ground and used duct seal for the slot.



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Tim Hite

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2018, 02:37:38 PM »

So, after searching for requirable IEC plugs for two days and not finding anything, I put "IEC Plug Lock" into google and this comes up first shot:

https://www.amazon.com/Rewireable-IEC320-C13-Accidental-Unplugging-Disconnections/dp/B01DCFVXKK

I was going to refer you to another product that I can't find now. Someone makes a clip that thread onto the panel mount receptacle mounting screws. Here's one you can retrofit. There's another that clips all the way over the IEC cable end and there's one for NEMA 5-15 as well.

http://www.interpower.com/ic/designers/in-depth-product-line-information/More-information-on-Connector-Locks.html 

Cool, those are real useful for making all sorts of custom cables.  If they made lockers my life would be complete
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Scott Holtzman

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2018, 04:11:51 PM »

So, after searching for requirable IEC plugs for two days and not finding anything, I put "IEC Plug Lock" into google and this comes up first shot:

https://www.amazon.com/Rewireable-IEC320-C13-Accidental-Unplugging-Disconnections/dp/B01DCFVXKK

I was going to refer you to another product that I can't find now. Someone makes a clip that thread onto the panel mount receptacle mounting screws. Here's one you can retrofit. There's another that clips all the way over the IEC cable end and there's one for NEMA 5-15 as well.

http://www.interpower.com/ic/designers/in-depth-product-line-information/More-information-on-Connector-Locks.html

Indeed I am aware of those but these need to be compatible with the locking IEC's on our QSC boxes.

Very specific requirement. 
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Jonathan Johnson

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2018, 04:35:18 PM »

The price is a little “out there” but a search for “armored extension cord” returned this...

100' 1/3 HLMC Armored Metal Clad Extension Cord - 250V - 3100 Plug and Connector https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F3FGJP/
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Tim Hite

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #20 on: September 28, 2018, 06:53:22 PM »

Definitely a tad long for the 2' run I need to make. Also, I think I can get it cheaper elsewhere. Good to know it exists, tho.

The price is a little “out there” but a search for “armored extension cord” returned this...

100' 1/3 HLMC Armored Metal Clad Extension Cord - 250V - 3100 Plug and Connector https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F3FGJP/
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Len Zenith Jr

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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #21 on: September 28, 2018, 10:43:27 PM »

Definitely a tad long for the 2' run I need to make. Also, I think I can get it cheaper elsewhere. Good to know it exists, tho.

For that length just go with the stainless techflex. $2.70/foot here for 1/2". You would need 1 custom end (mains or IEC) to get it on the cable and a bit of heat shrink to hold it on the ends. Easiest and nicest looking way to do it.
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Re: Rats! Need an armored AC mains cable
« Reply #21 on: September 28, 2018, 10:43:27 PM »


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