Using CPC as live conductor.... ok i know, but...

[uksparks]

Hi,

Had to change a bathroom fan at the weekend for someone and they wanted it to be on a timer, but couldnt as the cable was buried in the wall and wouldn't move etc..

the cable that fed it was a three core flex, I the earth was not being used anyway due to the load on the end etc.

I know you are not meant to use the CPC as a live conductor, but if its flex and the same CSA and you were to correctly identify it with brown etc, would it have then been acceptable?

I didn't do it, but it made me think, oh i so could have used it, but it just seemed wrong. I can understand why you wouldn't do it in twin and earth, but surely where its flex or all conductors are the same CSA and have their own sheathing on them inside the outer, would it have been acceptable or not?

I am going to say not on the basis CPC is CPC and nothing else, any thoughts would been welcomed.

 

[ipf]

Must admit, I've done it.....but it was on 400w sons 30 ft in the air, before we had internal photcells. The photocells had to be fitted to the brackets with 3 core flex from the fitting, about a foot long.

Shoot me for that you word for worders.......NIC ban on the way, no doubt!!!:cowboy:

 

[MDJ]

Must admit, I've done it.....but it was on 400w sons 30 ft in the air, before we had internal photcells. They had to be fitted to the brackets with 3 core flex from the fitting, about a foot long.

Shoot me for that you word for worders.......NIC ban on the way, no doubt!!!:cowboy:

Your not the only one, I have seen it done myself, however it doesn't make it right these days, I have seen it in the past.

 

[SPARK2B]

......trainee speaking here, but,...scary,..very scary.

 

[silver surfer]

But the cable is a 3 core flex not a single core.

The electrician/plumber/competent person !! who cut into the cable feeding the boiler would have realised his mistake if he had tested the modified circuit.

 

[ipf]

Your not the only one, I have seen it done myself, however it doesn't make it right these days, I have seen it in the past.

Well, in that situation, up in the air, if they can't weigh up what's what with a foot of flex to a p/cell they deserve everything they get.

 

[Plonker 3]

But the cable is a 3 core flex not a single core.

The electrician/plumber/competent person !! who cut into the cable feeding the boiler would have realised his mistake if he had tested the modified circuit.

.

Single-core cables that are coloured green-and-yellow throughout their length shall only be used as a protective

conductor and shall not be overmarked at their terminations, except as permitted by Regulation 514.4.3.

I would say a GY conductor is a single core marked in its lenght as protective condusctor. Its just been used to make up a 3 core flex

 

[MDJ]

It's irrelevent Dillb, as I mentioned earlier wheres the reg that say it is allowed lol

 

[Plonker 3]

I know, thats the problem interpretation that always causes confusion as the thread in the arms covers it pretty well.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I'm still saying it's No No, no CPC to whatever this flex is going to.
411.3.1.1

 

[iamelectric]

as i said common sense , cable buried in a wall maybe a few feet out in the open in the loft , flag it every foot - green and yellow used as permanent live

 

[Plonker 3]

I'm still saying it's No No, no CPC to whatever this flex is going to.
411.3.1.1

Cheers Archy, knew I had read that somewhere earlier but couldn't find it

 

[silver surfer]

I would say a GY conductor is a single core marked in its lenght as protective condusctor. Its just been used to make up a 3 core flex

A flexible cable is multicore wouldn't you say?
514.4.2 refers to single-core cables.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

There will always be division on this subject.

I will remain firmly on my high horse and stick to "its a no no"

as well as 411.3.1.1 completely not allowing it

 

[Brightspark2]

I would say a GY conductor is a single core marked in its lenght as protective condusctor. Its just been used to make up a 3 core flex

Come on now, its not referring to conductors in a multi core is it.

Anyway to be honest I interpreted it the exact same way as you and MDJ until I once mentioned it to someone on here and was told by a few people that I was wrong and that the regulation refers to the colour identification of the protective conductor when using it as that but that it may be over sleeved unless its a single core and as no one agreed with me or corrected them, I concluded I was wrong...

BUT I do not do it or like it being done...

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I am pretty sure the NIC mentioned this a while ago and said you can. They do seem to make it up as they see fit though.

Also i am fairly sure that you should not bury flex in a wall!

clearly the NIC didn`t consider 514.4.2 then ...did they....