SY Cable? Thoughts?

[Spoon]

but the fact you cannot buy it in 3 core,

Just for your info mate. Eland do SY from 2 to 18 core.
https://www.elandcables.com/media/1677951/veriflex-sy-pvc-yslysy-control-cable.pdf

They do state in the spec:

 

[Darkwood]

I think there is some confusion here to what classifies as SY cable, SY is a standard pvc flex with an external braid and usually a clear jacket, other cables with a braid are not necessarily SY even if they appear to be, the proper energy cables fitted to most automation plants or many of the machines I service have very similar traits and sometimes appear to be SY but they are specialist cables that you cannot just walk into your wholesalers and pick up off the shelf.
When I buy the correct cabling for repeated flexing joints you are required to do a lengthy check list of all the environmental issues it may be subject to, the bending radii, the number of flexing actions it will undergo etc etc and you are looking at several quid a meter in comparison to a quid a meter for its equivalent SY version, the last stuff I used was from IGUS and came in at about £400+ for 2 x 15m lengths of chainflex cable 4mm 4core and a 15m 7core which is about 5 x the cost of equivalent standard SY and understandably so, it has a 10million flex lifespan and on the job I put it on it will last 10yrs plus (exposed to all outdoor temperatures, direct sunlight etc), If I used normal SY it would fail within a few yrs and end up costing more in replacement and servicing over the same period.

I did have pictures of when standard SY is used in forced flexing conditions and the results are not pretty but cannot find them, I will also put my hands up to its deliberate use myself but only as a stopgap to get a machine running while the correct cable is been shipped in.

If one understands the construction of a energy flex cable and why it is design like that and compare it to your bog standard SY then you will understand why standard SY should never be used, if you see examples in the industry of what appears to be starndard SY used in this nature then I would need to know the manufacturer and the product code to give a suitable response.

 

[LeeH]

Just for your info mate. Eland do SY from 2 to 18 core.
https://www.elandcables.com/media/1677951/veriflex-sy-pvc-yslysy-control-cable.pdf

They do state in the spec:
View attachment 45625

That has a CPC in the 3 cores spoon. You should not sleeve the CPC and use it for a phase obviously.

 

[Spoon]

That has a CPC in the 3 cores spoon. You should not sleeve the CPC and use it for a phase obviously.

Obviously..
I have never done that.

 

[sparksfly]

Funny...I had to dig out/remove SY cables in a garden previously owned by an electrician...it had part turned black over time and braid was rusty ..not fit for the outdoor life.

 

[Deuce]

Funny...I had to dig out/remove SY cables in a garden previously owned by an electrician...it had part turned black over time and braid was rusty ..not fit for the outdoor life.

Maybe he took them from another place where they were not suitable and used them at home as they will do the job, and were free

 

[The_apprentice2.0]

I certainly wouldn't recommend it for external installations as I spent a chunk of last year replacing SY .... where it appeared to be UV damaged and outer sheath very brittle and cracked..... not sure on the brand as we did not complete the initial install

 

[DefyG]

A client has just purchased a portable heater (Ive not seen yet, only a photo) that was supplied with SY cable.
It was bought from a reputable British company so presumably meets BS!
The trouble is the lead is not quite long enough so have bought a marginally longer cable to replace it with.
I don't have a problem in using SY in this instance but am waiting to see how the manufacturers have earthed the braid. (Industrial 3ph [Commando] style plug to appliance).

 

[BruvDunk]

Used it all the time in the food industry a few years ago. Never had any issues.
Only issues was water ingress into the braid if the clear plastic outer got damaged from wear and tear....

Never used it on site apart from the plant room type scenarios..

 

[davesparks]

Never had any issues.
Only issues was water ingress
.

Surely these two statements are mutually exclusive?
How can you say there were never any issues then immediate after that describe an issue?

 

[BruvDunk]

Surely these two statements are mutually exclusive?
How can you say there were never any issues then immediate after that describe an issue?

Most systems will give you issues if damage has occurred!!

 

[davesparks]

Most systems will give you issues if damage has occurred!!

In most cases damage occurs as a result of poor design or inadequate protection. And the what happens after damage has occurred is also important.

 

[BruvDunk]

In most cases damage occurs as a result of poor design or inadequate protection. And the what happens after damage has occurred is also important.

Not really sure where your heading with this, SY has a place along with all other cables, methods etc

You select, design accordingly !

 

[cliffed]

It’s being used everywhere,young lads are using it for temp electrics on site,supplies to caravans.
We would never use it always Swa’s..it’s not a BS & discouraged for use in 18th,use it at your own risk assessment & peril

 

[davesparks]

Not really sure where your heading with this, SY has a place along with all other cables, methods etc

You select, design accordingly !

I'm not heading anywhere, just sharing my views on the subject.
Yes it has a place, and when it is the best cable for a particular job I will use it. However it is very often used when it is not the most suitable cable for the job, or where it is unsuitable fir the job.

 

[cliffed]

Seen so much of it used,it’s easy to install,I personally don’t like it.
It’s something that’s happened over the years,all because of fast fix,cost issues I presume.
In my day it was either Swa,trunking,conduit,flexible conduits,the skill of sparkies slowly being put to the bottom of the ladder.

 

[Chris1234]

Are you saying you have SY in a constant flexing motion on a machine here or am I reading this wrong?
You are also saying you install a pvc outer sheath cable in an environment where it is subject to oil?

The difference I would suggest is a cable flexing 1000 - 10,000 times before breakdown and 10million and also a pvc degrading within 2-5 yrs or lasting 20yrs subject to and nature of the chemical oils.

Are you providing a machine that requires costly services every few yrs after warranty of a machine runs out or one that will last, trust me I know the difference just from a visual inspection.

Yes, to the first part, your right it does get damaged tbefore other cables.
All the machines mentioned have been bought with SY, we haven’t put it in, only replaced like for like.
The rotating part I mentioned was the rotating platform contain the nip rollers way above a fiom extrusion machine. The platform rotates slightly more than 360 degrees, but due to some clever mechanical linkages, the cable only travels 180 degrees. The atmosphere up there is very hot and greasy from the plastic.

 

[Chris1234]

I run it in Unistrut quite a lot. No particular reason!

I think for mechanical strength it can’t be beaten.
The way it attaches to its special glands makes it very strong. I use it for power leads on portable machinery, people tend to try and more machines with unplugging them, which of course would pull cab.emour of a normal gland.

Do you happen to know how much the orange (or is it green?) Rexroth Indramat cable is?