I was digging in my garden and I found a wire coming through my garden underground. It looks old and dead, and I would like to take it off the ground, but the problem is that both ends lead somewhere outside my garden, so I don't really know where it ends or starts.
I called the TV providers and ...
I would not cut into a cable of unknown purpose or state. You could try using a voltage tester to see if it carries a current or not. Can you contact the owners of the adjoining properties and ask them if they know anything about it?
Assuming you own your property: Do you know what utility easements exist on it? Is it possible that this cable is providing service to another property adjacent to yours? Until you can answer those questions, definitely don't cut it. I don't know your location, but many areas have a centralized "call before you dig" service, which can help you locate and identify shallowly-buried utility services, regardless of whether they are power, cable TV, etc. Perhaps contact them?
It looks old and dead - I'd like to know how you can visually assess a cable, whose outer sheath appears intact and in good condition, to be devoid of any meaningful voltage?
@CaiusJard Maybe O.P. used a clamp meter? Something like this: fluke.com/en-us/learn/best-practices/test-tools-basics/… which can measure current/voltage without touching the inside of the cable at all. In this case, doesn't matter if it is accurate or not. A yes/no answer is more than enough for this, which those clamp meters can provide very easily.
A clamp meter won't register anything when both conductors are inside it (not incidentally, why cables bundle conductors) and would also not register anything for telephone, cable tv or fiber. OP - since you have many feet exposed, examine the exterior very closely - there is probably writing that repeats every 2-3 feet indicating what type of cable it is (may look like weird code to you) - not the utility, but the type of cable and what it contains, which would help to determine which utility it might be carrying.
As for the assertion that it "looks old" - not in the least. Modern plastic insulation, not tarred cloth. Buried cables are designed to last for a very long time, and that one is in excellent shape. Given that it's intact there's no visual indication of "live" or "dead", and cutting it may be very expensive or life-threatening (or both.)
Are there no markings on the cable at all? Every cable type I've ever seen has markings indicating what it is, at some spacing within the length that you've uncovered. Wipe it with a rag, in good light, and see if you can find words or numbers. If they don't photograph well, just tell us what they seem to say.
@CaiusJard It looks dead to me because I used a cable locator to check if it sees anything - and it doesn't. I'm not sure if it's a valid test in this case, though :)
it seems that I actually cut it a bit accidentally while digging. I found the cuts and I see the copper wires inside. I'll make photos and attach it to the post.
Strange thing, I had pretty much the identical experience - and was going to ask the identical question on here, with pretty much identical photos! Heh!
The new picture of the cut cable shows that is isn't a coaxial cable and also doesn't appear to be irrigation cable.
It looks like some kind of direct burial electrical cable for sure to me, and the way your shovel cut it looks like it would have shorted had it been a live wire. Nonetheless it also appears that you can test it since some conductors are exposed.
Discussion on question by ivanko: How…
Discussion on question by ivanko: How…