rcd protection

rdelectrical · Nov 5, 2014

hi guys I've recently installed an saw cable from mains incommer to ccu which moved from old position in a property as i said I've used swa from outside electricity box into loft in bungalow then swapped to pvc 16mm via proper terminations enclosed ran it along onto of insulation in loft away from everything then into trunking in hallway cupboard in to new ccu this was brought about because firstly i came thru from outside into zone in kitchen up a zone properly chopped in and capped came up where extractor was to be we agreed before no vent and steel splash this was so i didn't have more than a metre of metre tails going up wall the diy ers decided when installing cooker hood to remove cables from skt outlet which fell under vent hole they dug them out then chopped a 2 brick hole found buried 16mm took off capping thought it was cooker cable proceeded to cut and yes they blew main fuse i got call being accused of **** work so i installed the above swa to which they now are saying is wrong now i know I'm right does anyone agree sorry its a long post i would usually just have run swa all way to ccu without changing but the diy ers wouldn't pay and i didn't want to leave the elderly couple who they where doing it up for without power they basically want cable back where it was i refused as theres now a huge hole where it was cheers for your answers and patience
rich

rdelectrical · Nov 6, 2014

I've ran the pvc 16mm in loft on top of insulation away from rest I'm wondering if i should do something with that in case they go in loft armed with cutters

davesparks · Nov 6, 2014

The cable would need to be deeper than 50mm to not require RCD protection. But you cannot cut a chase that deep into a wall as the building regulations (part A I think) do not allow this.

Have you installed any OCPD for this cable or is it directly connected to the meter ?

The 16mm PVC cable you have used, is it T&E or is it tails?

rdelectrical · Nov 6, 2014

what is ocpd I've terminated swa in cupboard outside where main fuse is then from henly block metre tails to metre and terminated earth and armouring in henly block then 16mm earth to met

rdelectrical · Nov 6, 2014

thanks dave sparks didn't know about the building regs bit 50mm deep just about went through breeze block i really wasn't happy with it going this way as wanted to do swa way in first place but you know how it is when pricing customer wants what they want

rdelectrical · Nov 6, 2014

the pvc was t and e

davesparks · Nov 6, 2014

Are you an electrician?

OCPD is overcurrent protective device. Also known as a fuse or circuit breaker.

So if I have read this right you have a 16mm SWA connected directly to the meter, then jointed to a bit of 16mm T&E which then continues to the CU??

You have broken many regulations if this is the case!
There cannot be more than 3mtrs of conductor between the meter and the first bit of switchgear whether that is the CU or a switchfuse to feed a submain.

The cpc in T&E is not big enough for a main bond so is undersized to feed the CU

What have you fitted the SWA gland to at the meter end and how have you earthed the armour?

Octopus · Nov 6, 2014

rdelectrical said:
what i meant was due to old consumer unit being moved due to new kitchen.

I ran 16mm pvc from mains income cupboard outside through wall which came out in 2 zones, it went up wall 50 mm deep in capping vertically behind cooker hood run.

Then it was about a metre then into loft across then down trunking to new board the 16mm was in zone with skt outlet to plug in hood which would be behind the vertical vent cover.

The people doing the kitchen knew it was there agreed to use grease filters, and not vent outside as vent would be higher than the skt for hood, they after id gone dug out ring main for hood, along with 16mm cut a 2 brick hole for vent, leaving no where for cables to go.

They then cut mains thinking it was cooker cable, with the intention of reconnecting themselves when it went bang, i got blame so as to try to help, i had no choice to but to go in swa outside upto loft height then back in and swapped back to 16mm pvc they now are saying this is wrong i believe I've done it correctly as it was in first place

Its still written by a 7 year old!

southsea1201 · Nov 6, 2014

Just imagine being a customer and getting a quote from this dude!!! Combo of txt speak, bad grammar, and no punctuation. Seriously how would you ever get any work if this is the quality of your communication? it's a riddle within an enigma.....or a google translation from Swahili!!!