Earth Identification

[LouDog]

Hello, I've been asked to replace an existing 185mm earth cable as it's a black HO7 cable that has been marked up with green/yellow heat shrink at intervals along its run and then fully once its entered an enclosure at each end. Client wants it green/yellow throughout its run. It's run in a cable pit under an LV panel through 1.5m of duct into another pit up to a distribution panel. I know the customer is always right, but does this require changing according to regs? Thanks

 

[Marvo]

Is it fine stranded? Is it a single wire or a cable with a sheath? HO7 usually is and it would be an unusual choice for earth wire...

 

[Julie.]

Nope, it's fine, identification by colour is acceptable, and although preferable that it's throughout it's length it is not mandatory.

There isn't actually a definition of how much should be coloured, there is for bare earth connections but none for insulated.

Unless it's a PEN not Earth/CPC as this does need to be throughout its length.

Suitability of this cable is another matter.

 

[LouDog]

It may well be single core tri rated cable. Schematic states the phases and neutral are HO7 but nothing on the earth.

 

[snowhead]

Is the client / customer new to the building?
Presumably the customer hasn't just decided they don't like the colour of the cable, something must have triggered this.
Has there been an audit or survey of some sort on the building done by others?

 

[LouDog]

Hes relatively new to the site, its on a system which we now maintain. We were pulling new cables through the pits and he noticed the earths marked up. Said they have to be green/yellow completely which I was unsure of. Waste of money to change now if you ask me

 

[telectrix]

tell him to but a tin of striped paint.

 

[brianmoooore]

What's the knowledge level of the person demanding this? Is he an expert in the field, climbing onto some personal 'hobby horse' that he's come up with, or has he been misinformed by others?