Wiring of PIR lights - is this correct?!

[davver79]

Hi,

Firstly, I'm not an electrician, I am just here to look for advice from you friendly people.

We've just has some PIR lights fitted at the side of our house and a security floodlight at the back. We're really disappointed with the way the work looks.

We bought the lights and separate PIR's on the advice of the electrician. We also advised on the rough positioning. I knew there would be wiring on show, however, I did not realise the amount of cable that would be visible and it looks so messy. The electrician advised that we had to use this uv resistant cabling which was only available in white. As he's placed the PIR's right next to the lights I don't understand why he advised we buy them separately.

Please would you mind taking a look at the attached photo for me and letting me know what you think - is this correct or is there an easier/tidier way of doing this?

I will be talking to him when he comes back to finish/correct the job, but I would just like some second opinions that I can draw upon first.

Thanks in advance for your help
D

 

[Lou7]

Then the electrician needs to find a different route for the cable.
The regulations, and common sense, require a cable which does not degrade in sunlight, so it's going to be black cable. Unless of course the electrician is going to use white micc

What about white firetuf? Surely white reflects more than black.

 

[davesparks]

What about white firetuf? Surely white reflects more than black.

Yes whit reflects more than black, but that has nothing to do with it. The problem is the UV stability of the material.

Why on earth would you use firetuf? That would be no better than what is already there, there is no need for a fire resistant cable in this scenario and it's tendancy to draw water up the cable through capillary action will be undesirable.

 

[cobrauk]

That cable is FP200 (type cable) 4 c 1.5 isn't it ?

[h=3]Are FP Cables suitable for outside installations?[/h] For external installation with exposure to UV, we recommend white or black sheathed FP. Do not use red sheathed FP outside without additional protection.

 

[Lou7]

Yes whit reflects more than black, but that has nothing to do with it. The problem is the UV stability of the material.

Why on earth would you use firetuf? That would be no better than what is already there, there is no need for a fire resistant cable in this scenario and it's tendancy to draw water up the cable through capillary action will be undesirable.

I'm just saying that the geezers house is white why would you put black cable up the side of it, as mention in a couple of posts. And FP black or white is suitable for outdoor installation. Red is not recommended.

 

[davesparks]

I'm just saying that the geezers house is white why would you put black cable up the side of it, as mention in a couple of posts. And FP black or white is suitable for outdoor installation. Red is not recommended.

I never said I would put black cable on a white wall, I would do the job properly and route the cables in such a way that they are not unsightly.

Which type of FP are you talking about ? And what properties of it are you saying make it the right cable for the job? If it is FP200 then It is not mechanically strong, it has hollow spaces inside the sheath which wick water through capillary action, it is degraded by sunlight at a far greater rate than a black cable is (obviously excluding black fp200)

 

[davver79]

So, do you think I have good reason to say to him that he has used the incorrect cable for the job?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

So, do you think I have good reason to say to him that he has used the incorrect cable for the job?

Not necessarily,despite what has been said I do not believe that there is any reason regulations wise that the cable is incorrect. That said it is an appalling choice on cost and aesthetics. There are far better alternatives than his choice. You have good reason not to pay him due to the unacceptable standard of workmanship,if he is selling himself as a professional electrician then you have a right to expect a professional job.

 

[davver79]

He is selling himself as a professional electrician and seemed very goon on his website! Do you think I have reason to;

a) not pay him and ask him to remove his work and go home
b) not pay him until he has done the job to a higher standard with different cable (I don't have much faith that he can do this to a high standard)

Thanks for all your help.

 

[cobrauk]

There are lots of ways of installing those lights that would look more professional then the way he has done it, including taking one cable out to the PEC close to the exit hole from your home than installing any cable joints inside where he came through the wall, then exit the building with one or two cables to loop to each fitting.

Well thats how I would have done it.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

He is selling himself as a professional electrician and seemed very goon on his website! Do you think I have reason to;

a) not pay him and ask him to remove his work and go home
b) not pay him until he has done the job to a higher standard with different cable (I don't have much faith that he can do this to a high standard)

Thanks for all your help.

I think you should explain your concerns to him,that the work looks dreadfull,that the cables are poorly secured and already falling off the wall,and that despite what he says there are better alternatives. A black plastic conduit system professionally installed,or possibly Hi-tuff cable using screwed P clips as nailed clips are clearly not secure.
Given what he has already shown I doubt he is capable of either of the above to any standard,but you have to give him the chance to rectify the job. If he wont then ask him to remove it and leave without payment.

 

[rustynails]

Funny, he must have been in a real hurry. I don't understand why he/she has not removed the presumed dead cable either side of the black floodlight? That would have taken no time at all to do. What :icon_bs:

Did it get certificated?

 

[HandySparks]

Funny, he must have been in a real hurry. I don't understand why he/she has not removed the presumed dead cable either side of the black floodlight? That would have taken no time at all to do. What :icon_bs:

My guess is that he added the piece of cable as a spacer to level-up the fitting since he's brought the supply cable in on the surface from the top, whereas the fitting is designed for rear cable entry.

 

[rustynails]

My guess is that he added the piece of cable as a spacer to level-up the fitting since he's brought the supply cable in on the surface from the top, whereas the fitting is designed for rear cable entry.

ah that makes sense then

 

[Lazlo]

Terrible, conduit would have been nice and neat or run cables inside and chase fill accordingly, fuse spur for feed, with switch to energise switch live/trigger to linked PIRs. Or suitable fittings with ingetral PIRs. No excuse for sloppy work. Ask to remove and get some quotes from some sparks who take pride in their work.

 

[aces4al]

I'm still at college and I know this is wrong. Should either be chased / under floorboards indoors or conduit outside for neatness and mechanical protection. Also I don't get the need for separate pirs, it just looks crap adding all the extra cabling and it's just not needed.