Garage electric funny old cable - help please
- Thread starter diydancarpentry
- Start date
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But! I'd be asking the builder why the cable had been left in that state, who cut it and the level of training for not leaving it in a safe state.
I have no doubt RF would be able to put it right beautifully, but the cost of labour + travel + digs would make it prohibitively expensive.
Certainly more than replacing with SWA/T+E/Conduit whatever.
This is assuming it's not supplying some outdoor lights or something that you can't easily re-cable
Certainly more than replacing with SWA/T+E/Conduit whatever.
This is assuming it's not supplying some outdoor lights or something that you can't easily re-cable
Not safe?
Also, if it's supplied from an existing CU, even if you do want another CU in the garage, are you sure you need one, and do you need one with an RCD?
Do you mean the MCB is off, or the fuse has been removed?
Also, if it's supplied from an existing CU, even if you do want another CU in the garage, are you sure you need one, and do you need one with an RCD?
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I suspect the cable may be buried in the ground, perhaps the op can tell us how easy it may be to replace the cable.
Though it would be nice to re-use the old pyro cable if it's practical.
Though it would be nice to re-use the old pyro cable if it's practical.
Wow. I know there are frequent debates on here about what's suitable for a DIYer and what's not, but that link makes it absolutely clear why terminating pyro isn't a job for the amateur.
Perhaps if there were similar quality links for some of the other tasks that DIYers enquire about it may be easier to persuade them (sorry, "us") when they absolutely should bring in a professional?
Quite so - it's not even a job for a substantial proportion of otherwise perfectly competent electricians.
It's probably not that simple. In the case of working with and terminating pyro, as you've seen, it is quite clear from the link that it is a complex task which requires appreciable skill/experience and the appropriate tools. However, in the majority of cases of things which DIYers (or, at least, particular DIYers) should leave to professionals, the task would probably look "easy enough" when described/illustrated in a similar fashion, so would probably not have the same impact on prospective DIYers.
Kind Regards, John
Subject to the disclaimer that I haven't actually tried it yet, I don't think there's anything "clear" about it being an intrinsically unsuitable job.
A not inconsiderable amount of practice would be necessary, I'm sure, requiring time and financial investments, but that doesn't equate to unsuitable.
That's all true, but I think we both understand what skotl meant. As you say, it is pretty apparent that it is a task which requires an appreciable amount of skill, gained through experience/practice, and the acquisition of suitable tools etc - and therefore is very rarely going to be appropriate for an 'occasional DIYer' (which is what the vast majority of 'electrical DIYers' are).
Kind Regards, John
Unfortunately the link omits to illustrate the core to sheath insulation tests that are essential - and how to get an acceptable value if it is low. Being shown how to do something (at least once) doesn't necessarily impart the variety of "what ifs" that invariably crop up during any technical task.
That's where the required 'experience' element comes into the equation. FWIW, whilst the description does not explicitly mention (or illustrate) core-to-sheath insulation tests, it does say "... then carry out another insulation test to ensure the cable is fault free....", which I think most people would probably take to include core-sheath as well as core-core tests.
Kind Regards, John
Interesting thread. My thoughts are that while terminating pyro isn't really that difficult, you need to be shown how to do it properly and understand the possible problems as already said. I've seen a number of electricians who had picked up how to do it "along the way", or who had no previous experience, have problems with it. Anyone who has done much knows that even with care and experience you are always going to get an occasional problem.
Anyone here done the "glazed" seals? We were shown how to do them by the BICC guys who came to train us when we were apprentices, but I never actually used them.
Anyone here done the "glazed" seals? We were shown how to do them by the BICC guys who came to train us when we were apprentices, but I never actually used them.
It is probably the case that most people won't want to bother making the investments.
But skotl said "terminating pyro isn't a job for the amateur".
Indeed, but not for any 'disreputable' reason - merely because, for the vast majority of 'occasional DIYers' the amount of 'investment' (in terms of time, effort and money) just wouldn't be justified by the very little use to which the skills and facilities would be put.
Yes - but, as I said, we both know what he really meant - that (for the above reasons) it isn't a job that would be appropriate for the vast majority of 'amateurs'. Indeed, I don't think it's primarily an amateur/professional issue - even though the 'investment' would probably be more justifiable for at least some of them, I would imagine that, as things stand, its "not a job" for a substantial proportion of electricians, either.
No-one has suggested that either (most) amateurs or (most) electricians would be incapable of acquiring the required skills and kit if there was a reasonable reason so to do - but in many cases it would probably not make much sense.
Kind Regards, John
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