Metal flashing melted onto electrical wire

[DripSplashDrip]

I had to solder a copper pipe that was right next to an electrical wire (white) so I put a piece of metal roof flashing so I wouldn't burn it with the torch but when I went to remove the flashing, I discovered that the heat melted the flashing to the wire and now it's stuck.

Should I just leave it? It's in the ceiling so it would have to be drywalled over.

 

[Jadnashua]

Sounds like the flashing got hot enough to melt the insulation on the cable. I'd want to check how badly the cable's insulations is damaged.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

so would I, since ther are circumstances where even a white wire is carrying the hot circuit.

 

[DripSplashDrip]

How would I safely do that if the metal is fused to the wire? The outlets still work.

 

[DripSplashDrip]

Here is a picture of the wire, before it got melted to the metal flashing.

 

[WorthFlorida]

Where is this ceiling cavity? If you have to drywall over it you may need to cut out the entire section and rerun new wire since you cannot have junction boxes behind closed walls and ceilings. If it is a basement ceiling, you can do the repair with junction boxes and add access panels to the drywall repair to have access to them. The outlets still work since the copper did not burn through nor shorted to one another. BUT DO NOT LEAVE IT that way with power. A fire could start from arcing.

That strap holding the copper pipe, I assume you removed it and did a repair. It's why you melted the cable.

 

[DripSplashDrip]

It's above the kitchen. This wire comes from a long ways away, there's no way to rip it out without demolishing the house. I removed the copper strap and the section of the pipe that was leaking before I did the repair. In order to use the torch I had put metal flashing behind it to protect the wire and the joist.

If I can pry off the metal can I just use some black tape?

 

[WorthFlorida]

[QUOTE="DripSplashDrip, post: 619177, member: 77995".........If I can pry off the metal can I just use some black tape?[/QUOTE]

NO! It becomes a fire hazard.

 

[DripSplashDrip]

What about this? https://www.gardnerbender.com/en/p/HTP-1010/Black-Self-Sealing-Repair-Tape-1-inch-x10-inch#

 

[WorthFlorida]

Tape is a patch, not a fix.

 

[Kreemoweet]

If I can pry off the metal can I just use some black tape?

Repairing damaged wire insulation with tape or other means that provides equivalent insulation is perfectly acceptable. That goes for either actual wire insulation or in your case cable insulation
(the white plastic sheath containing the wires). It done all the time. It's what electrical tape is for.