SWA Glands : Poor Fit

[kenburgess]

Background:

Served my apprenticeship 1964 to 1969 with NORWEB but not been directly employed in the industry since then.

I have just laid a 10mm 3 core SWA cable in a trench under the patio from the house to a detached garage 8.5m away. (cable run will be around 18m to 20m).

There won’t be much load in the garage other than lighting, sockets and an electrically operated door and possibly a router but I am making provision for a 7.2Kw Electric Vehicle Charging point, which will be a further 10m run to far corner of the garage from the garage consumer unit. I may also install more Solar panels on the garage so the supply to the garage may also at some point be a feed to the house. Battery Storage is also a consideration. There is no water feed or metal parts to the structure. Single brick construction, wooden roof beams and tiles.

My question is: As far as I can determine, there are two types of gland for use on SWA cable: indoor and outdoor.
For a belt and braces approach I’ve chosen the outdoor type even though both ends will be indoors. The recommended gland for 10mm cable is Niglon 25CW.
This gland has a compressible rubber/neoprene ring which provides the higher IP rating. However from the pictures you will see that it will never compress sufficiently to make a seal on the cable sheathing.

OD of Cable 18.9 (measured 17mm). ID of Compression ring 24mm.

I realise these glands are for a variety of cable sizes but the next smaller gland isn’t big enough for the 10mm cable and this one seems far too big.

Do I have to apply large amounts of tape around the cable sheath for the gland to compress? Or am I missing a trick?

I also have 1.5mm and 2.5mm SWA for sockets in various places around the rear garden for shrub lighting and an ultrasonic cat repeller. I currently have the internal glands (Niglon 20BW) which is a mistake as most of these will be used external. However these glands also seem too large also and I’m sure the external version will have the same problem compressing onto the sheath. I’m sure the shroud isn’t sufficient protection for an IP66 rating.

2nd Question: to conform to the new colour coding I need to sleeve the cores in Blue and green/yellow.

I have 5mm Green/yellow sleeving which will just about push onto a short piece of core but would take forever to do a long piece. I need some 6mm sleeving which doesn’t seem to be available from my normal sources.

Any suggestions?

Any advise welcome.

Ken

“The difference between genius and stupidity is, genius has its limits.”

 

[westward10]

Think a 20CW will be better for that.

 

[Midwest]

Those are the wrong size glands; the compression ring should be a much tighter fit.

I normally rely on my wholesaler to provide the correct size gland and cable. Where did you buy them.
[automerge]1568625657[/automerge]
The sleeving only needs to identify the cable. Doesn’t have to be over the whole length of cable. Have you tried some cable lubricant, to aid slipping the sleeving on?

 

[bill01803]

It is because the SWA cables have been getting smaller over the years. Never go by what it says to use, see what fits, the same goes for the cleats.

 

[westward10]

It is the wrong gland, needs a 20CW.

 

[Midwest]

He needs to get some of them then

 

[kenburgess]

Have just tried a 20BW and it looks like it will fit with a bit effort. I'll order some 20CW.
[automerge]1568626486[/automerge]
Is there a special cable lubricant prduct?

 

[westward10]

You don't need to sleeve the whole length just a tag at the end.

 

[kenburgess]

Those are the wrong size glands; the compression ring should be a much tighter fit.

I normally rely on my wholesaler to provide the correct size gland and cable. Where did you buy them.
[automerge]1568625657[/automerge]
The sleeving only needs to identify the cable. Doesn’t have to be over the whole length of cable. Have you tried some cable lubricant, to aid slipping the sleeving on?

Those are the wrong size glands; the compression ring should be a much tighter fit.

I normally rely on my wholesaler to provide the correct size gland and cable. Where did you buy them.
[automerge]1568625657[/automerge]
The sleeving only needs to identify the cable. Doesn’t have to be over the whole length of cable. Have you tried some cable lubricant, to aid slipping the sleeving on?

I purchased them from TLC-Direct. Think they were recommended on the same page as the cable.
[automerge]1568626790[/automerge]

Those are the wrong size glands; the compression ring should be a much tighter fit.

I normally rely on my wholesaler to provide the correct size gland and cable. Where did you buy them.
[automerge]1568625657[/automerge]
The sleeving only needs to identify the cable. Doesn’t have to be over the whole length of cable. Have you tried some cable lubricant, to aid slipping the sleeving on?

Is there a special cable lubricant prduct?

 

[Midwest]

Washing up liquid? Or any silicone lubricant suitable for plastic. I’ve used some stuff from Screwfix.

 

[westward10]

Most swa selection charts will suggest 20CW for that cable.

 

[kenburgess]

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Midwest]

By the by, have you read up on the issues of ev charging, with pme supplies (if that’s what you have). Couple of threads on here about it.

 

[telectrix]

also bear in mind that SWA glands come with 2 sizes of compression rings/entries. e/g. there is CW20S and CW20L.. the S and L identifying the size of the compression hole. Small or Large.

SWA - Specialised Wiring Accessories

One of the U.K.'s leading suppliers of essential cable terminations, fastenings, fixings and tools for the electrical and construction industry.

www.swaonline.co.uk

 

[Strima]

Most swa selection charts will suggest 20CW for that cable.

That's the third time you've said that... ?

And for future reference if the OP needs it: SWA Cable Gland Chart - Enfield Electrical - https://www.enfieldelectrical.co.uk/pages/swa-cable-gland-chart