Cable for exterior lightng ?

[Andy78]

I have a job to do next week putting up 3 exterior lights mounted on the walls of the house. Normally I would wire within the house and pop out straight into the fitting, but certain things are preventing this. The customer wants minimal disruption in the house, so taking up the carpets that are laid on top of glued down lino on top of ply is out the window. Suspect (possibly asbestos ?) ceiling boards above the CU in the garage are begging not to be drilled, so it's been agreed i will wire externally clipped direct to the brickwork. The fittings required are coach lantern type and a small halogen flood. This leads me away from my usual outdoor cable of choice, SWA, as the fittings won't be suitable for cable entry, and I don't think my customer would want glands into galv besa boxes all over the wall.

I have been looking at NYY J/hituf cable as an alternative. I have never used this before and it looks good stuff, but i'm requiring a 5 core cable and don't know whether it will end up being a bit bulky or not.

Is there anything stopping me using flex ? A quick sniff round the web shows some places selling "outdoor" flex that has the same BS6500 category as normal flex. I'm obviously mindfull of UV and weathering effects, will flex cut the mustard here ?
Mechanical resistance is not much of an issue as the flex will be pinned up and out of the way.

Any help appreciated guys :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Guest55]

one word - fp200
only available in white but neat to clip .
ideal for exterior lighting

edit ; ah 5 core , doubt its available in that sorry.

 

[telectrix]

5 core 1.0mm black flex is ideal.

 

[Sintra]

Black arctic flex should be fine so long as it is out of reach.

 

[Andy78]

Cheers guys, looks like it will be flex then. Good to know as it's a lot cheaper than NYY J. I sort of knew it would be fine, but when I imagine it clipped on the wall, every part of me thinks "ugh, that's not right"

 

[Sintra]

The only problem with trying to clip the flex will be making it look decent.

 

[keniff]

one word - fp200
only available in white but neat to clip .
ideal for exterior lighting

edit ; ah 5 core , doubt its available in that sorry.

They sell black fp200 at my wholesalers bloody hard to strip the sheath lol!

 

[Guest55]

put it in pvc conduit , use whatever you like then.

 

[Sintra]

They sell black fp200 at my wholesalers bloody hard to strip the sheath lol!

Not if you have the correct tool Cable Knives*-*JOKARI

 

[keniff]

Not if you have the correct tool Cable Knives*-*JOKARI

What one do you use? Is one of them the thing you twist on and pull off like a coax stripper

 

[Sintra]

Have a couple of them. Just ring the cable and pull to the end. This is the one I would use most Cable Knives*-*JOKARI

- - - Updated - - -

Have a couple of them. Just ring the cable and pull to the end. This is the one I would use most http://www.jokari.de/index.php?id=20&L=1&tx_productsdb_pi1%5Bproduct%5D=10271

 

[Sintra]

I have a couple of them. This is the one I use the most Cable Knives*-*JOKARI

 

[Octopus]

What makes you think 5 core HiTuff isn't available?

Hi Tuff Cable 1.5mm² 5 Core - Mr RESISTOR

One good this about hituff is that its less likely to sag between supports.

That said, if asthetics are important I'd be looking at 20mm trunking and wiska boxes, as you'll find a single run of 5 core hituff extremely difficult to work with going in and out of 3 fittings

 

[Andy78]

I never said it wouldn't be available, just maybe a bit bulky. Never actually worked with the stuff though.
Conduit is out as well as the customer wants to see as little as possible on the walls.
Think I'm just gonna go for flex with twice as many clips as usual to try and avoid saggging.

 

[malcolmsanford]

There is always 4 core MICC, using the copper sheath as your CPC, and would look better than any cable, only drawback would be the price