Nice soft bendy tails

the pict · Jun 25, 2018

Why cant I get the same pliable cable for meter tails that SSE uses the stuff I get is as stiff as rebar whereas theirs is really bendy and easy to form if any one knows why this is let me know
P

telectrix · Jun 25, 2018

just what i need for my funeral a hearse with a built in crem.

AJshep · Jun 25, 2018

davesparks said:
The difference is the number of strands. 16, 25 and 35mm insulated and sheathed tails are available in both 7 strand and 19 strand versions. My local wholesaler started stocking the 19 strand a couple of years ago and it is much better to work with than the more solid 7 strand.

Be very careful with these EDF were refusing to connect these to their meters last year.
I had a nightmare last year in a communial intake cupboard ended up having to replace about 30 meters of tails because EDF wouldn't connect to the 19 strand tails.

They are technically considered the same as the 7 stranded tails, but EDF were not prepaired to connect them to their meters until they had some kind of approval from their meter manufacturers.
Hopefully its sorted now but dont want anyone to get caught out like i did.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Nice soft bendy tails

LankyWill · Jun 25, 2018

Pete999 said:
The tails aren't double insulated the cable has a PVC insulation layer and a PVC Mechanical Protection Sheath

Alright ardvark, it has two layers of insulation covering the conductor as in 'double layer' of insulation. I think you got my point i was trying to make..

the pict · Jun 25, 2018

Plonkers

Dave OCD · Jun 25, 2018

I'd say the jobsworth needs to get his terminology correct for a start, 7 core 25mm ? 7 strand surely ?

Marvo · Jun 25, 2018

You should have installed a 7 core cable then insisted they use it or replace it at their cost because they asked for it in writing at the bottom of their abort report.

Wilko · Jun 25, 2018

And they didn't like the colours too - what's that about?

Marvo · Jun 25, 2018

davesparks · Jun 25, 2018

AJshep said:
Be very careful with these EDF were refusing to connect these to their meters last year.
I had a nightmare last year in a communial intake cupboard ended up having to replace about 30 meters of tails because EDF wouldn't connect to the 19 strand tails.

They are technically considered the same as the 7 stranded tails, but EDF were not prepaired to connect them to their meters until they had some kind of approval from their meter manufacturers.
Hopefully its sorted now but dont want anyone to get caught out like i did.

The 7 and 19 strand are both 6181Y, made to the same British standard and both fall in to the category of ‘class 2‘ stranded conductors so unless the meter manufacturer has explicitly specified that only 7 strand cables be connected (highly unlikely) then the EDF guy was wrong and you would have had a fair case against EDF.

In my experience EDF seem to go out of their way to avoid actually doing a job most of the time

Richard Burns · Jun 25, 2018

I was informed by a meter fitter for UK power networks (that was probably actually EDF but I can't remember) who told me that they had been told to remove any 19 strand cables they found in meters and not to fit them themselves.
They were apparently worried that they would not make a good connection (really?).

freddo · Jun 26, 2018

davesparks said:
In my experience EDF seem to go out of their way to avoid actually doing a job most of the time

I know, I've never known any other company put so much effort into avoiding work. Almost every job there is some excuse.

Richard Burns said:
They were apparently worried that they would not make a good connection (really?).

I would expect a better connection than with a more solid conductor. IIRC there were tests done on this subject and published in one of the ESC Switched On magazines, though I can't find the copy here right now. The tests also included straightening and twisting the strands before connection.

telectrix · Jun 26, 2018

reently on a job of mine (new build) they refused to install supply cable into an external meter box because it would have meant them working under scaffolding.

Pete999 · Jun 26, 2018

telectrix said:
with 25mm tails, i pull them up into the CU a few inches extra, strip the ends about 1",then bend ends over when I've got them in a bit of free space. trim ends to get rid of the unequal strands due to bending, then pull down so the ends drop int the main switch terminals. sometimes i even manage to get them thee right way round. .

I could do with a few extra inches

Deleted member 26818 · Jun 26, 2018

UKPN will not connect tri rated cables into ct chambers.
https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/help-and-advice/documents/CT_guide.pdf

AJshep · Jun 26, 2018

davesparks said:
The 7 and 19 strand are both 6181Y, made to the same British standard and both fall in to the category of ‘class 2‘ stranded conductors so unless the meter manufacturer has explicitly specified that only 7 strand cables be connected (highly unlikely) then the EDF guy was wrong and you would have had a fair case against EDF.

In my experience EDF seem to go out of their way to avoid actually doing a job most of the time

I tried that argument. I actually presented all the information i posted above to one of their technical guys who agreed and authorised it.
Unfortunatley when the second engineer came out he refused to connect it too..
I presented the emails from this senior technical guy, but his "senior field manager" disagreed.
In the end i just had to change the tails because the flats needed energizing.

I rang the senior technical guy back a few weeks later, he said they had a meeting and the outcome was that they wanted each meter manufacture to carry out a series of tests (under lab conditions) to certify that the tails would compress properly in the terminals and wouldnt work there way lose after a few simulated knocks and wiggles.
He said unfortunatley they used 5 or 6 manufactures so until they get satisfactory test results back from all of the manufacturers, they will be disallowing them.

@spinlondon these are not tri-rated.