Tails

[Boatelec]

Hi everyone. I am fairly new to Forum. Apprenticeship in industry in 1970s 2330,2391, BMEA Marine Electrical Technician. I do work on land and water together with inspections. I would be interested to hear your views on the following. We have regs for clipping, supporting and clamping of cables and quite rightly so, why then is it normal practice of both Sparkies and Suppliers to leave the most potentially dangerous cables in the installation dangling, held only by the conductor clamp itself. This isn't considered acceptable for a 13A plug top, let alone a cable with only a 100A fuse between it and the sub station. There they sit in a nice loop awaiting a tug from a toddler, pushchair or vacuum cleaner. Given the inadequacy of the conductor clamps in many CCUs a decent yank or particularly a twist would have many of them out or at least loose. Given all the concerns expressed at the moment about supply head and CCU fires should we, on Inspection, require these to be at least clipped up tight and if so what about the Supplier ones that are just the same?
What do think?
Howard

 

[sparkless]

Good Point.
But, we have enough Regs without adding more.
if you wanna clip yours carry on

 

[Guest55]

the statistics dont tally with your concerns , i.e. theres hardly any reported accidents caused by tails that i know of so there cant be too much of an issue.

 

[Boatelec]

Have you seen Professional Electrician and Switched On this month? Things are always ok until they're not. I was thinking about Inspections. Surely we don't just inspect to the letter of the regs and must have concern for the overall safety of the installation? How can overlook something when, if it was on the other side of the CCU it would be unacceptable?

 

[guest119]

Very good point.

When I did domestic many years ago I always secured them with black coated all round band.

Takes minuites and gives peace of mind.

Especially on the white meter weather watch systems with 3 sets of tails.

Boydy