does paint-on insulation for wire work?

[rambelmont]

I was drilling next to the wire that runs to the outside condenser. The spinning chuck must have touched the big black wire, because I noticed that the black insulation was gone in one place and I could see the copper of one wire shining in the light. I have seen paint-on insulation for wires -- does this work? I do not want to have to replace the black wire, but I want to be safe.

Can anyone help?

[pcboss]

Did you compromise the size of the wire by gouging any of it away?

Is this wire inside or outside?

[maintelect]

a good TEMPORARY fix is to wrap the exposed part in electrical tape. Use good tape like scotch 33+ ( becareful to avoid the bargain bin tape.) wrap the exposed part and about 2 inches befor and after the expose part. If this wire is outside than do the same but if possiable urn the breaker off to the condensing unit to avoid any problems

[rambelmont]

The wire is inside the house. And, no, I don't think any of the copper was removed -- just the outside black insulation for all the wires, and the inside insulation for the white wire. The exposed area of wire is about 1/3 of an inch long, but very narrow -- I can best describe it as looking like a scratch in the white insulation.

[rambelmont]

The problem is I cannot wrap tape around just the exposed bit of white-insulated wire because the wires are still tight up against each other within the outside black insulation. I would have to peel back the outside black insulation to get enough slack to wrap the tape around the exposed single wire. the wire is located inside the house. You stressed temporary fix -- does that mean that the whole wire should be replaced?

[ray2047]

Yes, the wire has to be replaced. Alternately you could cut out the damaged section, put in two junction boxes, and use them to splice a bridge between the cut sections. The covers for these boxes must remain accessible. Or you could use one Jbox at the damaged section and run new wire from there to the AC.

[maintelect]

Originally Posted by rambelmont

The problem is I cannot wrap tape around just the exposed bit of white-insulated wire because the wires are still tight up against each other within the outside black insulation. I would have to peel back the outside black insulation to get enough slack to wrap the tape around the exposed single wire. the wire is located inside the house. You stressed temporary fix -- does that mean that the whole wire should be replaced?

ok first thing shut off the power to the wires.
now you have less to worry about for now.
If there is little room to get tape on the wires, you can try cutting the tape in to pieces about 3-4 inches long and wraping it like that.
The best way is to just go with a replacement box and put splices inside there. by the way what guage is this wire

[rambelmont]

It is for the outside condenser, and it looks like it might be #8-- the circuit carries 60 amps.

[maintelect]

have you decided on a final plan of action ?

[rambelmont]

I had wanted to avoid putting in a juntion box, but it looks like that is what I will be doing. Then running a new wire from the cable box to the outside condenser unit. Will that splice cause any problems for the condenser?

[ibpooks]

It should be fine as long as you use the right size wire nuts for the conductor AWG.

[rambelmont]

thanks -- and thanks for all the help