Although cable tools generally come pre-tested from the manufacturer, it’s a good idea to check wire before you install it into a well, and it only takes a couple of minutes. You may have an old spool, a used spool, or a new one that has been accidentally bumped or dropped. In any case, it’s a good idea to make sure that it is not damaged before spending time and money dropping it hundreds of feet into a well.

Here is what you need:

• A body of water. Any body of water will do...a bucket, a 55-gallon drum, trash can or a pond.
• A megohmmeter

Submerge the cable in water, making sure to keep both ends of the cable dry and out of the water. Since air acts as an insulator and water is partially conductive, if there is a breakdown in insulation in the wire cable, electricity will leak into the water and can be detected by a megohmmeter.

Place one probe of the megohmmeter in the water, and another probe on one of the ends of the wire. Go through and test all the wire ends.The readings on each lead should result in very large numbers. If not, the electricity is being leaked into the water, likely from a nick in the installation. Normal insulation resistance readings for drop cable should read two-million ohms or more. If the reading is below two-million ohms, it is not recommended to use this wire.

Have questions about this test? Call, email, or chat with us today at RC Worst & Company.