shower wired in swa?

[Mike Blair]

Alright guys got a phone call of a friend asking me to do a shower...but the client doesn't want conduit or the walls to be chased out. The ferm and the client agreed with a swa from the db clipped outside into the loft then into isolator and shower.... Is this even ok?? ignore the fact its gona be ugly as .... what do you guys think?

 

[davesparks]

It won't be ugly if you take a bit of pride in the job and do it properly.
As long as you have a sensible plan to gland the SWA at the isolator then I can't see what's wrong with it, what is your concern?
But why SWA?

 

[Darkwood]

They seem to have a very limited imagination ..MICC the best way very discreet, neat and easier for termination options into the pull switch.

 

[davesparks]

They seem to have a very limited imagination ..MICC the best way very discreet, neat and easier for termination options into the pull switch.

And 6mm will probably suffice, which if I remember correctly only needs a 32mm gland, that'll go into the single Pattress easy!

 

[Mike Blair]

what are your thoughts about sy cable?

 

[davesparks]

what are your thoughts about sy cable?

It's a reasonable cable for it's intended purpose as a screened control cable.
It tends to grow green stuff under the clear sheath if left outside for a while, then the sheath crumbles away when it's had a couple of summers of sunshine on it.

 

[Darkwood]

And 6mm will probably suffice, which if I remember correctly only needs a 32mm gland, that'll go into the single Pattress easy!

4mm is about 50amp rated clipped direct so won't be far of and probably 20mm gland for a 2core (don't quote me on that, its been a while).

 

[davesparks]

4mm is about 50amp rated clipped direct so won't be far of and probably 20mm gland for a 2core (don't quote me on that, its been a while).

Yes, 2H4 is a 20mm gland, I was working on one a couple if weeks ago. And thinking about it 2H6 is a 25mm gland. It's 4H6 which is a 32mm gland I think

 

[Pete999]

I guess there are not any airing cupboards around for you to clip Twin and cpc up into the roof space?

 

[telectrix]

once connected a shower for a customer who'd installed 6mm T/E up the outside of his house. this was 25 years ago, and it's still almost as good as when it was installed. so what happened to UV degradation?

 

[Darkwood]

once connected a shower for a customer who'd installed 6mm T/E up the outside of his house. this was 25 years ago, and it's still almost as good as when it was installed. so what happened to UV degradation?

Is it on the north side of the house... T&E (depending on manufacturer) usually degrades quickly in direct sunlight, I have seen it whiten and crack cables south facing within a few years.. again depends on manufacturer but its not a UV tolerant cable so shouldn't be used unless stated so by the manufacturer.

 

[Brightspark2]

summers of sunshine

What's that?...

 

[Dave OCD]

It could also be easier and more cost effective for the job in question to run Twin and CPC up the outside to the loft but in PVC conduit.

 

[davesparks]

It could also be easier and more cost effective for the job in question to run Twin and CPC up the outside to the loft but in PVC conduit.

Or outdoor capping over it

 

[LankyWill]

Just come off the light it will save you loads of time!

Why not 10mm in some sort of conduit might look aesthetically pleasing then.

 

[dalecross1991]

How about hi-tuff ? Easy to work with..

 

[7029 dave]

How about hi-tuff ? Easy to work with..

See they do it in 4mm an 6mm, never used to years ago.

 

[markc123]

Is it on the north side of the house... T&E (depending on manufacturer) usually degrades quickly in direct sunlight, I have seen it whiten and crack cables south facing within a few years.. again depends on manufacturer but its not a UV tolerant cable so shouldn't be used unless stated so by the manufacturer.

I have literally seen thousands of t+e exposed around here, caravan sites are quite common places for exposed t+e and yes the sheath has faded a tiny bit but still IR's like 400-500 ... it must be cheap import cable you've seen. I don't use t+e for outdoor application personally but i've seen literally tons of it, and quite a lot which has been standing exposed for 15+ years and never witnessed anything major.

 

[davesparks]

I have literally seen thousands of t+e exposed around here, caravan sites are quite common places for exposed t+e and yes the sheath has faded a tiny bit but still IR's like 400-500 ... it must be cheap import cable you've seen. I don't use t+e for outdoor application personally but i've seen literally tons of it, and quite a lot which has been standing exposed for 15+ years and never witnessed anything major.

A good IR test isn't the be all and end all of it! The faded sheath can be a sign that the sheath and insulation have become brittle. This won't show up on an IR test but will notice if the cable gets moved for any reason.

 

[Darkwood]

I have literally seen thousands of t+e exposed around here, caravan sites are quite common places for exposed t+e and yes the sheath has faded a tiny bit but still IR's like 400-500 ... it must be cheap import cable you've seen. I don't use t+e for outdoor application personally but i've seen literally tons of it, and quite a lot which has been standing exposed for 15+ years and never witnessed anything major.

If the cable has whitened it's a sign of deteriation of the integrity of the cable and the sheath no longer performs as designed ..as above this won't be picked up on an IR test unless it's progression has affected the insulation on the cores.

 

[markc123]

If the cable has whitened it's a sign of deteriation of the integrity of the cable and the sheath no longer performs as designed ..as above this won't be picked up on an IR test unless it's progression has affected the insulation on the cores.

I'm gonna re-read this thread, because i think I'm missing the point. I totally get what you're saying and i understand that, but thats just for the comments box on a eicr ... if it IR's satisfactory then its electrically safe, can't go round replacing **** on the assumption someone might move it?

 

[andyb]

See they do it in 4mm an 6mm, never used to years ago.

I've just installed 25mm for a sub main Dave.

 

[davesparks]

I'm gonna re-read this thread, because i think I'm missing the point. I totally get what you're saying and i understand that, but thats just for the comments box on a eicr ... if it IR's satisfactory then its electrically safe, can't go round replacing **** on the assumption someone might move it?

No, if all of the tests and an inspection pass then it may be considered electrically safe.

 

[Darkwood]

Part of an eicr is visual so recognising problems will be key to how you report them, of course if you find the cable has no physical damage or poor test results then it's OK but I would still put a side note that the cable is unsuitable for its environment ..... on the train of thought here it's like saying you found a nasty gouge in the outer pvc jacket but because the test resuly 's were fine you ignore it! ...

The outer pvc is the environmental protection, when that is compromised the inner insulation jacket gets exposed to the environment which it was not designed to do... yes it may last quite a few years but that's situation dependent but still it's the case to note it as unsuitable for the environment whether it's brand new or 10yrs old going strong.

 

[markc123]

Part of an eicr is visual so recognising problems will be key to how you report them, of course if you find the cable has no physical damage or poor test results then it's OK but I would still put a side note that the cable is unsuitable for its environment ..... on the train of thought here it's like saying you found a nasty gouge in the outer pvc jacket but because the test resuly 's were fine you ignore it! ...

The outer pvc is the environmental protection, when that is compromised the inner insulation jacket gets exposed to the environment which it was not designed to do... yes it may last quite a few years but that's situation dependent but still it's the case to note it as unsuitable for the environment whether it's brand new or 10yrs old going strong.

Genuinely never thought of it like that. I always note if i see t+e outside anyway, but i never really see the problem with it along as it tests out fine. I always use flex outside, regardless of the t+e outside debate it does look hideous, flex is such a neater job.

 

[Darkwood]

Remember the outer sheath of a twin covered cable is the environmental protection, the inner sheath is the cable insulation and can and often do have different properties so a breach in the outer sheath or even exposure to an environment that damages the structural integrity of the outer sheath needs addressing nd either the cable repaired, replaced (with a suitable type if environmental damage) or taken out of service.

If your using flex outdoors remember to ask its suitablitity to UV, its mainly the black flexes that are suitable and white not but can vary with manufacturer.