What cable

[mikep]

Whats this cable, installed in a 70/80's flat, 6 strands of around 0.79mm csa diameter looks like Hituf but with only one sheath anyone got any info on it.

Many thanks, Mike.

 

[batty]

Are all sockets the same?

 

[mikep]

Well Batty,

It's a flat with only a 30amp mcb all feeding 1 x 2 gang socket in each of the 2 bedrooms, 1 in the lounge & 1 in the kitchen, have not checked yet if it's a ring or what with the odd radial

Think I will have to have to pull it apart etc to find out how it's wired just wanted to know what this cable was, going back monday to survey it.

The cooker is wired in the same stuff but worked it out to be 7/044

Mike.

 

[batty]

Never seen it just wondered whether it was a dodgy spur ie diy.

 

[mikep]

The cooker is in the same but heavier stuff worked out on the csa and strands 7/044 good for 49amps.

Mike

 

[mikep]

Looks a bit like Hituf fairly stiff but with 1 sheath not 2 !!

Not quite thick enough for 4mm but slightly thicker than 2.5mm stranded

Mike

 

[Evans Electric]

Its just a circular cable , it was used on blocks of flats , Nothing wrong with it as far as I know , in fact on the plus side , the earth is the same size as feeds. Don't know what its called TBH.

 

[mikep]

Yep all the same csa size but what is it's rating etc !!!

 

[PBC_1966]

Not quite thick enough for 4mm but slightly thicker than 2.5mm stranded

Could be 7/.029 - Equivalent to about 2.9 sq. mm.

If so, then the tabulated maximum current per Table 3 of the 14th edition for clipped direct/unenclosed is 23A with coarse protection (add 33% for close protection).

7/.029 was pretty much the standard size cable for domestic 30A rings prior to metrication.

 

[PBC_1966]

Oops! Missed that you said it's only six strands, not seven. You said each strand is around .028 to .029" diameter though. That works out pretty close to 2.5 sq. mm.

 

[mikep]

Many thanks all, Think I will take it as 2.5mm anyway as no data.

Mike.

 

[lilman]

A lot of the bigger house builders in the 60s/70s used their own types of cabling. I had some a while ago used by Beazer Homes - was told it was called "anaconda". Apparently the cables were pre-cut for each flat from drawings; supposed to speed up installation time, and lessen the level of skill required by whoever was installing it.

 

[Lurch]

Apparently the cables were pre-cut for each flat from drawings; supposed to speed up installation time, and lessen the level of skill required by whoever was installing it.

Basically what the high rise blocks were done with, get any old joey to throw the cables in with little or no skills required as there weren't any at the time, not that I remember, but I believe that was the case. Seen a few bits of numbered cables from the odd rewire on other developments, same principle, different names.