Termites Entering The House Inside Electrical Conduit

[Lazy Sod]

Had a termite attack and traced it to a conduit feeding some garden lights (conduit runs in soil around the garden and then up into the house wall to an electrical box). Termites were emerging from the conduit electrical box in the house wall. God knows where the termites are entering the conduit in the garden as the conduit runs underground around the garden, could be anywhere. I'm thinking of trying to seal the conduit at the electrical box inside the house (seal around the wires in the conduit), but checked online and apparently termites will eat through ordinary silicone sealant. Anyone know what can be used to seal around the wires inside the conduit that is not gonna be eaten by termites?

[Crossy]

The ideal solution would be a cable gland on the end of the conduit, something like this http://www.seven-a.com/products/?cat=8 they do, however, only work properly with fairly round cables.

Failing that I'd fill the end of the conduit with epoxy, bung some cotton wool or similar down the tube to stop the epoxy running in too far and then fill about 5mm thickness. Negative is of course that it makes it harder to replace the cable. Smear a little vaseline inside the conduit first so the epoxy doesn't adhere too tightly then you'll be able to pull it out if necessary. Shove some insecticide in first for added effect

Edited January 7, 2009 by Crossy

[Cobalt60]

Had a similar problem on a job in Malaysia out in the sticks, ants etc entering terminal boxes via conduits, the acidy little buggers then managed to melt terminals and connections. Tried silicon but it did not seal against the multi single strands, it left gaps, so back they came.

Ended up using loads of ant spray then packed the entry points with a thick grease for as far as we could pack it into the conduit and the terminal and junction boxes, has held up for nearly a year now.

[Lazy Sod]

Thanks guys. This DIY forum is actually a great resource. I'd previously searched the web and found nothing but within 24 hrs on Thai Visa I get two great suggestions.

[tjo o tjim]

Best solution is actually using mortar. Ants seem to love silicon. If you wanted to use a seal type connection, put a tee in the conduit, stuff cotton or something in at that point, and fill in the mortar from above. The goal is generally to limit the extent of damage that they can do, rather than prevent damage to a single circuit.