Stripper

[Mrjmegson]

Can I.......

I'm putting my inverters and batteries under the stairs, where the consumer unit and other power related items are.

So, in order to get the solar power down through the (very small) house, I've run 6mm² 5 core SWA down to the under stairs.

Now you'll appreciate this is reasonably chunky cable, and not very flexible. Once under the stairs it has a few corners to turn to get to the inverters, and it won't turn them very sharply.

So, can I remove the outer armoured layer, so it is easier to run in trunking around where I need it?

 

[NozSpark]

The basic answer is no as the insulated cable needs some sort of mechanical protection (the bedding isn't classed as mechanical protection)

 

[Mrjmegson]

Hi Noz, sorry for the late reply, but of a crazy day.

If I ran the PV down to the inverter using solar cable as usual, it wouldn't be armoured at all, so why would it matter if I strip the last few meters of this SWA?

Surely it only needs to be armoured where its not visible and could therefore get accidentally damaged?

As stated in my initial post, this last meter or so will be in trunking anyway.

Sorry, I'm struggling to understand this.

Cheers

 

[truffle pig]

The outer PVC on the armour is the outer insulation. The material between the armour and the inner insulation is just packing and not insulation, so once the armour is stripped you have lost the required "double insulation". However, if you are putting it into trunking that will get you back to the require protection. Out of interest why 5 core, and is it being buried in fabric of the building?

 

[binky]

Once under the stairs it has a few corners to turn to get to the inverters, and it won't turn them very sharply.

I hope that' a well ventilated space and not full of clutter?

Inveters need to be able to cool themsleves via convection currents, small understairs cupboards tend not to work in regards to that.

 

[Andy™]

if its in trunking then yes, however youll still need to adequately terminate and earth the armour

 

[Mrjmegson]

Hey guys, cheers for explaining it so well.

Yeh the cable runs along under the landing floor, so through the building fabric.

The under stairs is a big space, I think, big enough to have as a downstairs loo if I wanted.

No problem terminating and earthing the armour.

Cheers guys.

 

[Mrjmegson]

Sorry, 5 core, so I could bring two strings and am earth down.