Right or Wrong - Termination of SWA - Opinions and Suggestions please guys!!!!!

[harrison2987]

Above is a picture of 2 16mm SWA cables terminated into a termination block. In my opinion this is the correct way to dress in the SWA and terminate it into the incoming side of the termination block, not putting it into the same termination as the outgoiong cables.

Is there a reg that says you have to terminate like this? Or is it just good practice to do so??

Below is how another spark has terminated the 2 SWA cables. He has gone straight into the top of the termination block, into the same terminations as the outgoing cables.



Just to be clear there are no fuses on this termination block, it is simply a through termination, i just want to know which way is corrct or better practice and if there are any regs to say which is the better way to terminate.

Thanks in advance for your opinions and help!!!!

 

[stuartcourt]

fair play harrison hard crowd on here

 

[hasel5]

Wht the 415 v label on the termination covers ?

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry 400v label

 

[markc123]

why not black - live brown - neutral

I do hope you're joking here lol

 

[44ALLAN]

I agree lol i said the same on a thread ages ago, but got proved to be wrong - i think it does state somewhere in the regs that black should be used as earth now. Wheres biff when you need him lol

What reg is that never came across it but stand to be corrected on that.
What about 5 core numbered then...........no colours on them boys lol
1/2/3 live
4 -Neutral
5 - earth.
That's my way and 3 core Black is always Neutral ................at both ends lol

 

[Darkwood]

Wht the 415 v label on the termination covers ?

Control panel wiring doesn't fall under the scope of the BS7671 why do you question it? Why its there?. A lot of control panel have door interlocks which turn off the panel but still have power at the interlock terminals, so a warning they may be still live with panel door open, also terminals of certain size come with power shields already marked up as they are not finger safe..... don't get confused with what your taught its a whole different set or reg's and legislation.

 

[markc123]

What reg is that never came across it but stand to be corrected on that.
What about 5 core numbered then...........no colours on them boys lol
1/2/3 live
4 -Neutral
5 - earth.
That's my way and 3 core Black is always Neutral ................at both ends lol

I don't think it actually has a reg number, i think its all wrote in the harominsed cable section at the back of the regs - will pop to my van soon and have a look.

I always use black as neutral and grey as earth aswell - it's just this debate came up on here a few months ago, and apparantly it's how the IET want it now - black = earth, grey = neutral.

I'm still not entirely sure of it myself, but will read up on it tonight.

 

[44ALLAN]

It's probably a recommendation as opposed to a reg mate.
I think i can remember the discussion too.

I've been brought up with black being neutral so automatically make that my neutral when I have it as a spare core.
Happy to do so as long as both ends are the same..............unless it is forbidden, of course,then I'll have to change.

 

[snowhead]

I always use black as neutral and grey as earth aswell - it's just this debate came up on here a few months ago, and apparantly it's how the IET want it now - black = earth, grey = neutral.

I'm still not entirely sure of it myself, but will read up on it tonight.

The reason given on here I believe was to get away from the idea of Black being Neutral

 

[Darkwood]

Come on lads we have so many threads themed on colour coding lets not hi-jack this one as we are digressing from the OP's original queries.

 

[Darkwood]

@Harrison... you say the swa's are so big due to volts drop... how long is the run to see such a large increase of csa and whats the front end device rating.... im confused as to why you have taken such large cables into the panel as opposed to a local isolator or socket point with reduced size control fly lead hence you only have a 2,5mm cable incoming to control board. Seems overkill and even if the swa is correct for volts drop you don't have to terminate them direct.... if the run was longer you would in theory end up with cables you couldn't even fit into the panel never mine terminate them.

 

[44ALLAN]

Come on lads we have so many threads themed on colour coding lets not hi-jack this one as we are digressing from the OP's original queries.

Very true..............got carried away a little...........soz.

Got to agree about the 16mm though.
Local 20amp switched fused Isolator with 2.5mm going into panel would have looked far nicer IMO.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I prefer your regular Yorkshire Teabags, but if you live in a hard water area, do you go for their Hard Water version?

 

[johnboy6083]

It doesn't matter about colours, as long as they are identified at both ends.
A voltage warning lable is only required if a nominal voltage of greater than 230 to earth exists. Which is very rare in most installations.
the banjos aren't required to be used if decent reliable contact can be made with the chassis of the switchgear/equipment. Often a clients spec is more stringent than the regs, which is where some of these myths come about.

most sparks who spout these myths probably haven't seen the regs for years!

 

[Darkwood]

It doesn't matter about colours, as long as they are identified at both ends.
A voltage warning lable is only required if a nominal voltage of greater than 230 to earth exists. Which is very rare in most installations.
the banjos aren't required to be used if decent reliable contact can be made with the chassis of the switchgear/equipment. Often a clients spec is more stringent than the regs, which is where some of these myths come about.

most sparks who spout these myths probably haven't seen the regs for years!

You are correct regarding nominal voltage to earth but it was a very recent re-wording from the red book which included between phases yet doesn't get highlighted at the front as a regulation that has been amended so plenty including myself got caught out by the change, caution on your advice this warning notice is within a control panel and that has its own EU regulations and legislation and doesn't fall within the BS7671

 

[Engineer54]

I thoroughly agree, those supply SWA cables would have been far better terminating in to an isolator, and then supply the cabinet with suitably sized cables. If the distances of these SWA cables are that great from the supply points, they should have been provided with an isolator as a matter of course anyway.

As they stand at the moment they are both a bloody disgrace for a new build installation. what's all that untidy PVC tape wrapped around the cores at the entry point, and the earthing tape wrapping on the designated CPC core?? Has your company never heard of break-outs, or heat shrink tubing?? Those installations rate a D- in my book!! lol!!