Couple questions regarding cable entries

[DominicB]

So I'm just wondering what the best practice is on cable entries

If you are running SWA through an outside wall. What is the best way to seal the hole where the cable runs through? Silicone It? but I figure that's not the prettiest. Are there any cable covers for SWA? I understand you can terminate into a wiska box or such likes but I want to avoid unnecessary joints.

 

[MFS Electrical]

So I'm just wondering what the best practice is on cable entries

If you are running SWA through an outside wall. What is the best way to seal the hole where the cable runs through? Silicone It? but I figure that's not the prettiest. Are there any cable covers for SWA? I understand you can terminate into a wiska box or such likes but I want to avoid unnecessary joints.

I got a tip last week from a guy who was in the trade years ago and now installs sky for a living he showed me where a cable enters (if the buildings roughcasted) when you stick some silicone in the hole knock a few stones off the rough cast higher up and bed them into the silicone around the cable it ends up a really really neat finish and you wouldn’t even know that there is silicone there.
Alternatively if the DB that your running the SWA from isn’t too far away you could strip the SWA to the length of the run to the DB gland it into a wiska box outside and run it through conduit through the wall and off to your DB saves making a joint and keeps it looking good.

 

[MDJ]

So I'm just wondering what the best practice is on cable entries

If you are running SWA through an outside wall. What is the best way to seal the hole where the cable runs through? Silicone It? but I figure that's not the prettiest. Are there any cable covers for SWA? I understand you can terminate into a wiska box or such likes but I want to avoid unnecessary joints.

If you went to someones house and put a cable through the wall then had to patch up I would like to think you would use plaster on the inside and render for example on the outside and maybe even touch up with paint if required, silicone is fine for baths and sinks.

 

[pirate]

I prefer the white ones, but...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/exterior-covers-pack-of-5/58284

and you can bung the silicone in too...
but do agree with MDJ, you need a tidy finish inside too...all part of the professionalism.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Personally I like to drill from the inside out so the finish on the inside doesn’t need anything doing to it if your careful I used to patch with cement, mortar, render etc but the silicone (well actually it’s not really silicone it’s mastic the same stuff they use for expansion joints in brickwork) and chuckies method really does look good you should have a go next time your drilling a roughcasted building.

 

[pirate]

Plus, drilling from the inside means a cleaner hole, and no guessing where it's coming out!

 

[MFS Electrical]

Plus, drilling from the inside means a cleaner hole, and no guessing where it's coming out!

Everybody loves a cleaner hole now don’t they, sorry I couldn’t resist

 

[pirate]

I just knew, as I typed that...
LOL!

 

[MFS Electrical]

I just knew, as I typed that...
LOL!

AND no guessing where it’s coming out??? How did I miss that opportunity

 

[kris jones]

You mean swa outside and you're taking it through a wall to inside for connection or whatever? Drill through the wall and cover the hole with a small (3x3) type IP rated box, gland into the box and feed through in conduit or whatever then another box on the inside to feed out of? you can silicone around the box. Normal practise at my place

 

[Paul.M]

Exit to an outside wall can look very neat using one of these if it suits your job.