Steel Wool and Electrical Cables

[Prawo Jazdy]

I've recently moved into a rented place in a rural location. I thought I heard mice in the roof last week, but it doesn't look like they've been in the living space, so I thought I'd plug up any gaps with wire wool.

I hesitated around the fuse box. There's a big gap going somewhere dark and mysterious where the cables come in, but I'm a bit wary of putting steel wool next to these. Am I right to be concerned, or is there nothing really to worry about in doing this?

[TheRealFingers99]

It's all going to depend on the condition of the cables/insulation. Personally, I wouldn't. The stuff (wire wool) is remarkably easy to set fire to (some survivalists use it as an alternative to tinder!) and I doubt it'll deter mice.

[Prawo Jazdy]

I suspected as much. It's not intended as a deterrent, just something they're unlikely to want to gnaw through in order to gain access to somewhere. I wonder if scrunched aluminium foil would do the same job but be safer...

[WinstonWolf]

Still conductive, can you use expanding foam?

[nyt]

I read once that expanding foam leeches the plasticiser from the insulation around electrical cables making it brittle.

No idea if accurate.

[Prawo Jazdy]

From what I've read they'll just eat through expanding foam. I realise aluminium is conductive, but it was the potential fire risk of wire wool that was on my mind. Maybe I should just get an eagle.

[Busterbulldog]

Many years ago my Ford Capri caught fire when wire wool caught by touching a parcelshelf speaker wire and going on to slowly ignite a dustsheet in the boot.

[TheRealFingers99]

How about standard filler -- "pollyfiller" or even concrete?

Chances are they'll nibble through it if they need to, but they'll find other ways of getting to any food.

[Prawo Jazdy]

As it's not my property I don't want to faff about with concrete, but polyfiller seems a good option if I can get it to stay in position (it's a gap in the ceiling where it meets a wall). Cheers for the suggestions.

[Salesy]

Try the lightweight filler from Toolstation, it sets hard but is light enough to hold without sagging. Reminds me of marshmallow

[dirkgently]

Use Expanded metal works a treat.

[Simpo Two]

Scrunched-up chicken wire is a good option for anti-mouse defence.

[cahami]

strip back the insulation on both cables and keep them apart with a small block of cheese?

[Prawo Jazdy]

I can't find an impedance value for cheese in my data book...

[MatrixXXx]

Prawo Jazdy said:

I can't find an impedance value for cheese in my data book...

well that would depend on the Cheese, I would avoid soft cheeses, something like parmesan would be better....

[JimbobVFR]

Prawo Jazdy said:

I can't find an impedance value for cheese in my data book...

I'll get my Megger out and test at 500V later ☺