In your country, do you use pipe to run wire through very much?

[joesparky]

can you bend pipe?

 

[Dustydazzler]

The title of this thread maybe clear but your opening post clearly states "can you bend pipe". There seems to be a lot of attitude on this forum of late.

This forum is tame compared to a sporting forum that I belong to , there are regular users on that forum who hurl abuse over even the slightest disagreement...

 

[pc1966]

The (approximate) UK equivalent to USA romex is our "twin and earth" (T&E) cable.

In the typical UK case the CPC (earth/ground wire) is uninsulated within the overall cable's sheath, however, it the CPC should be sleeved in green/yellow at the ends where it connects to the sockets, etc. Also here the CPC is a size or two below the line/neutral conductors (e.g. 2.5mm^2 L&N conductors with 1.5mm^2 CPC).

The reduced CPC size, along with its unsheathed construction, makes the cable overall smaller and easier to install, also cheaper. However, we have quite a strong requirement on the design side here in the UK to make sure the over-current protection disconnects fast enough not only to prevent the CPC overheating, but also to avoid prolonged exposure to high touch voltages during fault clearance.
[automerge]1599067945[/automerge]
In mainland UK most domestic work is in T&E and conduit is not so common. Many decades ago singles in metal conduit was used routinely for domestic and you will sometimes find T&E pulled through old conduit when rewired (instead of the singles that would be the norm in industrial style conduit installations).

 

[BLBelfast]

Just for clarity. Nearly every single domestic property in Northern Ireland is wired in twin and earth and piped in 20mm PVC conduit down the chases using adaptors and metal flush boxes. Obviously a stud wall, which is becoming more and more common, it is just pushed down and a grommet is used to enter the box.

I've also always been told its to protect the cable from Trowell etc. Just no idea why we do that here and the mainland UK can use capping ?

 

[telectrix]

Just for clarity. Nearly every single domestic property in Northern Ireland is wired in twin and earth and piped in 20mm PVC conduit down the chases using adaptors and metal flush boxes. Obviously a stud wall, which is becoming more and more common, it is just pushed down and a grommet is used to enter the box.

I've also always been told its to protect the cable from Trowell etc. Just no idea why we do that here and the mainland UK can use capping ?

the main advantage, apart from mechanical protection, is ease of rewiring , as and when needed, either due to age, or due to a drilled cable. saves chasing the walls out again. the reason the UK uses capping is to cut costs. quote for conduit at an extra £££s on the job over here, and you'll lose the job through price. new builds are thrown up as cheap as possible (e.g. dry lined , studded walls etc.).

 

[Pete999]

Just for clarity. Nearly every single domestic property in Northern Ireland is wired in twin and earth and piped in 20mm PVC conduit down the chases using adaptors and metal flush boxes. Obviously a stud wall, which is becoming more and more common, it is just pushed down and a grommet is used to enter the box.

I've also always been told its to protect the cable from Trowell etc. Just no idea why we do that here and the mainland UK can use capping ?

When I was House bashing, we used Split METAL oval conduit rubber grommets at both ends, and CRAMPETS to hold conduit in the chases. Happy days.

 

[BLBelfast]

Its a race to the bottom here aswell price wise though and no one would cap a cable into the wall. Don't get me wrong I feel it's the proper way of doing it just find it strange that we have adopted a different method.

Worked in Australia and they grinded a slot down the wall and poked the cable in with their screwdriver ffs

 

[Pete999]

Its a race to the bottom here aswell price wise though and no one would cap a cable into the wall. Don't get me wrong I feel it's the proper way of doing it just find it strange that we have adopted a different method.

Worked in Australia and they grinded a slot down the wall and poked the cable in with their screwdriver ffs

Its a race to the bottom here aswell price wise though and no one would cap a cable into the wall. Don't get me wrong I feel it's the proper way of doing it just find it strange that we have adopted a different method.

Worked in Australia and they grinded a slot down the wall and poked the cable in with their screwdriver ffs

Well that is where the criminal element ended up wasn't it?

 

[James]

can you bend pipe?

Absolutely, I have a hosepipe that i bend every time i wash the car.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Absolutely, I have a hosepipe that i bend every time i wash the car.

be careful not to put a kink in it

 

[norcal]

This is a photo off the web of home being built in the Chicago area, Chicago, & a number of it's suburbs only allow EMT when wiring homes, no flexible wiring methods like NM cable, AKA "Romex®", MC, Metal Clad cable, or AC, Armored Cable. The claim is that it is a result of the Chicago fire, but is more likely make work rules forced by unions.

Note: the salmon colored plastic pipe is for fire sprinklers, required in new homes now.

 

[Dustydazzler]

If new builds in the U.K. were required to be wired using galvanise conduit the price of wiring a new build house would sky rocket...
probably double if not triple the per unit price to wire them...
the only real advantage To using conduit in a house would be in 60 years time when it comes to rewiring them would be a piece of cake...

 

[telectrix]

If new builds in the U.K. were required to be wired using galvanise conduit the price of wiring a new build house would sky rocket...
probably double if not triple the per unit price to wire them...
the only real advantage To using conduit in a house would be in 60 years time when it comes to rewiring them would be a piece of cake...

yes but UK regs. for new builds are slap it in any old how, cover it up, next job. and that's everything, not just electrics.

 

[Dustydazzler]

yes but UK regs. for new builds are slap it in any old how, cover it up, next job. and that's everything, not just electrics.

rough as a badgers in most cases, I know a sparks / plumber Handyman guy who does Some work for one of the big developers and his work rough as ----.
he can lash in cable and polypipe so badly it would make you cry.
i foolishly got him to do some plumbing for me last year and all the joints leaked the day after he left... utter shambles

 

[pc1966]

This is a photo off the web of home being built in the Chicago area, Chicago, & a number of it's suburbs only allow EMT when wiring homes, no flexible wiring methods like NM cable, AKA "Romex®", MC, Metal Clad cable, or AC, Armored Cable. The claim is that it is a result of the Chicago fire, but is more likely make work rules forced by unions.

That is a nice looking building going up!

I can kind of see the point, EMT is pretty flame containing and it makes inspection easy (EMT yes/no?, not Hmm, is this cable of one of the approved types for this circuit?) but it also looks like a bit of a power-grab by the union, and other cables are quite safe when used appropriately. Still, hopefully least to higher standards than often seen in new builds.

The other think is how often is it fixed wiring that is at fault? I would expect it is the appliances and their flex that cause most fires.

Also another odd difference that I heard from @Megawatt is that USA generally has its GFCI/AFCI at the outlets, where as in the UK/Europe it is normal to have them at the breaker board so they protect the fixed wiring from faults (or limit the risk to DIYers drilling walls for a new shelf) as well as attached equipment.

 

[freddo]

This is a photo off the web of home being built in the Chicago area

I like that. I'm sure If EMT was available here we would use conduit more. The screwed steel we have here is a bit 'heavy duty' for regular use. I did install some more 25 and 32mm galv today, yes I measured out all the bends.