Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views!

[Darkwood]

Right ... Just been nudged to set this up by Paul.M and sounds a good idea following recent threads I've done in the Arms..

Rules....No Offensive material... edit if required before posting as this is the public arena.
Anything to do with the trade or in and around it ...H&S pic's welcome.



I've posted this a few times and this is at a mates house following a kitchen refirb several yrs ago. mg_smile:

 

[Raptor0014]

Inspection hole ?

Exactly. Think of the time saved on a EICR

 

[Mike Johnson]

Just a general enquiry, who else thinks that bending cables at right angles is not a good idea?

 

[marconi]

Just a general enquiry, who else thinks that bending cables at right angles is not a good idea?

Me. But Telectrix has only used shapely curves.

 

[Raptor0014]

Just a general enquiry, who else thinks that bending cables at right angles is not a good idea?

If you’re referring to the cables that are supplying the RCDs etc that are at 90 degrees. They’re like that from the manufacturer.

As long as the bend radius in relation to the CSA is ok then I don’t have a problem with it.

It’s when you see them almost folded in two. But then it is deemed good practice to do so with a single 1-2.5mm CSA conductor to ensure a good electrical contact.

Never understand why that’s ok but but you couldn’t bend the cable back like that elsewhere.

 

[Mike Johnson]

If you’re referring to the cables that are supplying the RCDs etc that are at 90 degrees. They’re like that from the manufacturer.

Quite so, but that is the board manufacturer not the cable manufacturer, who may have a different view on that.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Quite so, but that is the board manufacturer not the cable manufacturer, who may have a different view on that.

They look like solid copper links, rather than cables.

 

[Raptor0014]

They look like solid copper links, rather than cables.

That they are indeed.

 

[Mike Johnson]

So bending a multi cored cable or a solid core which is worse, bending a solid core at right angles introduces massive tension and compression to the core which would be spread over a multi core cable.

 

[marconi]

I know SWA has minimum bend radius depending on csa and number of cores. I remember reading this too:

TLC Electrical Supplies - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/4.4.2.htm

 

[Raptor0014]

So bending a multi cored cable or a solid core which is worse, bending a solid core at right angles introduces massive tension and compression to the core which would be spread over a multi core cable.

Considering they are made to a specification which is approved for sale in UK, ergo conforms to safety standards, I’d suggest they’re compliant.

Unless a defect is found, which given the amount of Chint boards around would likely have happened by now if there was.

It’s no different to these busbars in Schneider boards that are formed into a U-Shape to go around the neutral conductor in the main switch.

I also removed this from a board I changed today.

 

[Dustydazzler]

From my experience a bent core is fine so long as you form the bend 'once' and then it stays like that.

Issues occur when you try to re-bend or alter any bent cable, then often it tends to snap at the bend

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think you have just proved the point of how much stress is put on a core when bent at right angles, I wonder how much cracking has happened internally when bent the once, would be interesting to set up a test rig and measure the resistance between straight and bent at right angles or a radius once or twice.

 

[nicebutdim]

Given that we don't know the manufacturing process of these factory links, nor precisely how the copper has been treated, I don't see any mileage in comparing them to the copper cables we spool off drums.

 

[Raptor0014]

I think you have just proved the point of how much stress is put on a core when bent at right angles, I wonder how much cracking has happened internally when bent the once, would be interesting to set up a test rig and measure the resistance between straight and bent at right angles or a radius once or twice.

I’m sure the boffins already have given the amount of bent and right angled cables and conductors out in the wild.

 

[littlespark]

Like any metal, solid copper links are possibly heated up to form a bend, then it stays that shape.

Some internal links are fine stranded, so easy to bend, but the crimps they put on the ends holds all the strands, and the formed shape, in place.