External cable run

[Mapman]

Can anyone recommend external condut/trunking to take four 2.5 cables , one 1.5 cable and one earth wire. Its a straight run up the wall into the roof space with at least one elbow/right angle at the bottom where it goes into a cupard.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Do you mean sheathed T/E cables?....if so you'd probably need 32mm plastic conduit to get that lot in.Trunking on an outside wall looks horrendous,but MT4 would do it if you could live with it.
Might be better to use a neatly clipped run of SWA's up the wall and convert at each end.
If this is a domestic you are probably going to get a pasting from the hand wringers over running cables up an outside wall......always preferable to keep it all in the fabric of the building but if there's no other way as long as its all protected and you can live with it..........

 

[cobrauk]

YT4 for T&E or Swa with small consumer unit would be best

 

[Spoon]

Doesn't the conduit/trunking type depend on the route? If the route was on the drive way I personally would not like to use plastic.

 

[MDJ]

YT4 for T&E or Swa with small consumer unit would be best

YT4 on the outide of an house? consider yourself dismissed lol

 

[chris murphy]

"Hello All",

As some Members know I am NOT an Electrician - I am a Heating Engineer / Heating, Plumbing and Gas Contractor - but I am interested in knowing this:

Just as a matter of interest regarding this Topic - would it be permissable to use Solvent Welded Plastic Plumbing Waste Pipe for External [or Internal] Cable runs.

I have seen cables run underground in Plastic Waste Pipe / Soil Pipe from Buildings to Out Buildings a few times - BUT This may not have been `Electrically Approved` / Within the Building Regulations applying to Electrical Installations - ?

Obviously I realise that buried Waste Pipe or Soil Pipe is a completely different prospect / situation to Plastic Waste Pipe secured to the outside of a Building regarding `Safety` or the Lack of it.


Would this be against the Electrical Regulations / Guidelines as `Unapproved Materials for Electrical Installation Works` - Words to that effect - ?

I am guessing that this should NEVER be done because it could cause someone to DIE if they cut into the `Waste Pipe` thinking that it was just a Waste Water Pipe ! - ?


I would be interested in Members answers Please.

Regards,

Chris

 

[Spoon]

Hi Chris. It depends on the type of cable used or the device protecting the cable.

 

[HandySparks]

Interesting question, Chris. I'm not aware of a specific rule against using plastic plumbing pipe for electrical cables. I enquired with ELECSA about using blue water pipe as ducting for an underground cable and they said it could be used. Of course, underground cable, whether in a duct or not, would need a warning tape buried above, so a somewhat different situation to above ground.

I would say it's bad practise unless clearly marked as containing electrical cable.

I see that 32mm PVC conduit is available. You're rather limited on the choice of fittings in this size though:
Marshall Tufflex CR8BK Black High Impact Heavy Gauge Round Conduit 32mm 3m Length, CR8BK

Also 38mm and 50mm, although I doubt it's widely stocked:
http://www.marshall-tufflex.com/sho...ound_conduit/4dd3c1faafbaa7a9b9731853e97db720

 

[chris murphy]

Interesting question, Chris. I'm not aware of a specific rule against using plastic plumbing pipe for electrical cables. I enquired with ELECSA about using blue water pipe as ducting for an underground cable and they said it could be used. Of course, underground cable, whether in a duct or not, would need a warning tape buried above, so a somewhat different situation to above ground.

I would say it's bad practise unless clearly marked as containing electrical cable.

I see that 32mm PVC conduit is available. You're rather limited on the choice of fittings in this size though:
Marshall Tufflex CR8BK Black High Impact Heavy Gauge Round Conduit 32mm 3m Length, CR8BK

Also 38mm and 50mm, although I doubt it's widely stocked:
Marshall Tufflex> Home > Cable Management > Conduit > Round > Round Conduit

"Hello HandySparks",

Thanks for your reply.

I was not asking about this because I would ever want to use Plastic Waste Pipe for Electrical Cables - I just wanted to know for knowledge purposes - so that I could tell Builders etc. IF they ever asked Me or decided to use it on any Job that I might be involved in.

I appreciate You posting the Links to the Correct 38mm and 50mm Conduit - But as I mentioned this was not Me trying to find out if I could actually Use Waste Pipe - I would NEVER do that because of the possible confusion / DANGER that I perceive it could cause.


Plus the fact that I do not carry out or advise on Electrical Work - BUT I would have liked to get a definite answer on this - Just to know about it.



Thanks again.

Regards,

Chris

 

[chris murphy]

Hi Chris. It depends on the type of cable used or the device protecting the cable.

"Hello Spoon",


Thanks for your reply.

I had thought that Plastic Waste Pipe should NOT be used as an External [or Internal] Electrical Conduit because of the possible chance that someone might think that it WAS a Plumbing Waste Water Pipe and cut into it with a Hacksaw.

If this pipe was used Externally it would look very unsightly if Marked with `Identity Tape` - so people would not want to use the correct / mandatory [?] Identification method.

Regards,

Chris

 

[telectrix]

an alternative might be to use a SWA sub-main feed ( 10mm or 16mm ) externally to a sub.main. then take circuits out of that.

 

[DPG]

"Hello Spoon",


Thanks for your reply.

I had thought that Plastic Waste Pipe should NOT be used as an External [or Internal] Electrical Conduit because of the possible chance that someone might think that it WAS a Plumbing Waste Water Pipe and cut into it with a Hacksaw.

If this pipe was used Externally it would look very unsightly if Marked with `Identity Tape` - so people would not want to use the correct / mandatory [?] Identification method.

Regards,

Chris

It's only marked with tape if it's underground, think you may have mis-read the previous answer. Daz

 

[chris murphy]

It's only marked with tape if it's underground, think you may have mis-read the previous answer. Daz

"Hello DPG / Daz",

Thanks for your message.

Actually I was not misunderstanding the previous mention about Identifying a buried Cable - I must have not gone into enough detail in My comment about the `Identity Tape` [which is unusual for Me]:

What I meant was that IF Plastic Waste Pipe was used as a Conduit and fixed to for example an External Wall - Because it would NEED to be Identified for Safety as NOT a Plumbing Pipe - that `Identity Tape` or similar Identification that it carried Electrical Cables SHOULD definitely be applied.

BUT - that because it would be seen as `Unsightly` people would probably NOT apply it - thus causing what I would consider to be a VERY Dangerous situation.


Thanks again for your reply.

Regards,

Chris

 

[Deleted member 9648]

an alternative might be to use a SWA sub-main feed ( 10mm or 16mm ) externally to a sub.main. then take circuits out of that.

You'lll be in trouble with E54 now mate.

 

[Spoon]

What I meant was that IF Plastic Waste Pipe was used as a Conduit and fixed to for example an External Wall - Because it would NEED to be Identified for Safety as NOT a Plumbing Pipe - that `Identity Tape` or similar Identification that it carried Electrical Cables SHOULD definitely be applied.
[/B]
BUT - that because it would be seen as `Unsightly` people would probably NOT apply it - thus causing what I would consider to be a VERY Dangerous situation.

If someone was crazy enough to use plastic waste pipe on an external wall (because it would look cack) then they should at least put a electrical flash sticker there the pipe goes into the house and maybe one every 2 meters along route of the pipe. You cant complain about electrical warning stickers looking "Unsightly" when you are using plastic waste pipe or routing cable...