How to repair frayed cable

[reefgirl189]

I'm having some trouble repairing a cord from a used piece of equipment I bought from another canreefer.

The cord from the tunze pump unfortunately will sit partway in the water of my DT. The protective sheathing is cracked, exposing all the wires inside. Luckily the internal wires still have their sheathing.

Originally my plan was to get some good heat shrink and use that but I can't find any that will fit over the end of the cord and shrink enough to enclose the exposed wires to the point of being considered waterproof.

I'm nervous of using electrical tape to do the job as it is going to be underwater.

Does anyone have any ideas on what could work? I'm down to my last brilliant idea of using silicone to seal it.

[Aquattro]

If it was my tank, I wouldn't use it...

[Lampshade]

There is brush on electrical tape that would work... but i'm not sure how fish safe it is :S

Here's a decent writeup on it:
http://www.epinions.com/review/BlueM...614307972?sb=1


One thing you'll have to find is something that has some sort of UV protection. Even electrical tape will turn to a solid cracking mess in time under your lights. Unless of course you have LED's, then I'm not sure how much it would fray. I had some wires in my canopy that where exposed to my halides that made the electrical tape toast.

[Nano]

the guys at our shop here use the brush on electrical tape for water proofing cables where electrical tape wont work, however, you would want to read up on toxins if there are any in the material

[reefgirl189]

Hey thanks for the lead on the brush on tape. I'm going to give the company a call and ask about it being aquarium safe.

I'll let you guys know what I find out.

[The Codfather]

water proof shrink tube. We use it all the time with submersible pump installs, just make sure you follow the instructions to the "t"... but thats what I would use, its proven. Just my 2 cents.....

[mseepman]

Where do you get it?

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by The Codfather

water proof shrink tube. We use it all the time with submersible pump installs, just make sure you follow the instructions to the "t"... but thats what I would use, its proven. Just my 2 cents.....

Thanks for another tip. With the heat shrink any piece that fits over the cord end will not shrink enough to create a seal on the actual cord. Is this shrink different?

[sunoka]

I inspect electrical and work closely with CSA....you need to throw the pump in the garbage it is unsafe for your fish and your home ! Are you GFI protected ?

Originally Posted by reefgirl189

I'm having some trouble repairing a cord from a used piece of equipment I bought from another canreefer.

The cord from the tunze pump unfortunately will sit partway in the water of my DT. The protective sheathing is cracked, exposing all the wires inside. Luckily the internal wires still have their sheathing.

Originally my plan was to get some good heat shrink and use that but I can't find any that will fit over the end of the cord and shrink enough to enclose the exposed wires to the point of being considered waterproof.

I'm nervous of using electrical tape to do the job as it is going to be underwater.

Does anyone have any ideas on what could work? I'm down to my last brilliant idea of using silicone to seal it.

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by sunoka

I inspect electrical and work closely with CSA....you need to throw the pump in the garbage it is unsafe for your fish and your home ! Are you GFI protected ?

Yes the sump room is GFI protected. Sigh... I knew that the cable was no good and it shouldn't be used.. I'm just a bit upset that I wasted the money... I should have just bought a brand new pump...

ETA: I think I'll contact Tunze and see if they can replace the cable on it for me...