Heat shrink MICC terminations

RF Lighting · 2 Jun 2019

Just came across this item on eBay!

Has anyone ever come across these before or actually used them?

I can’t believe that they could ever provide a reliable long lasting seal on the end of an MICC cable.

I’ve been doing this job a long time now and I’ve never even heard folklore about these, never mind actually seeing them, but I’m always interested to learn about different ways of doing the job.

I’m very tempted to buy a pack and send them to JW to test on YouTube.

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

I can't imagine how you would ever securely seal those onto a smooth copper sheath, and also be able resist being twisted.

Many years ago we tried out black plastic compression type pots - I think I still have the compression tool - and they failed for the aforementioned reasons.

Can't beat a properly screwed on pot, speedily applied compound and securely crimped seal.

crystal ball · 2 Jun 2019

Found this on another forum

It's a shame BICC did away with the "shrink on" seals for Pyro made it very easy for doing repairs on imperial cable. I actually worked on a site when they were first used had the Pyro reps on site a few times sorting out the teething problems of using them on site and not in a cosy workshop

flameport · 2 Jun 2019

There are pictures of the instruction leaflet on the ebay listing, and the phone numbers are the old area code scheme before it changed on 16 April 1995, so they are 24+ years old.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392289156269

I have never seen them or anything like it.
The fact they and similar things don't exist now strongly implies they were a failure.

Having read the instructions, one big problem is they require a gas torch for installation, something not likely to be welcomed on many construction sites.

john4703 · 2 Jun 2019

I miss pyro, it was so neat when installed properly

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

john4703 said:
I miss pyro, it was so neat when installed properly

Agree, but you wouldn't have liked a pyro job I did.

It was a block of flats and all started off ok using normal pyro. But then the boss found out that pyrotenax would make up ready made lengths of pyro, so he measured all the lengths in a flat from the drawings and ordered them, of course no consultation with us lot. So one day all these giant envelopes turn up with the flat nos written on them. That's a good idea we all thought, until we started to install, every length of cable was 1000mm or more too long. So I ordered a load of pots, so we could make them the right length, "F*** that" he said just lose the excess in the plaster.
So that's what we did, with our various designs to "lose" the cable it looked like the first fix was done by picasso and I'm sure the builder though we were mostly drunk.

Safe Zones, safe zones, what are they??? the good old days

Incidently, they came with black plastic pots and seals all done in the factory.

ban-all-sheds · 2 Jun 2019

donrkebab said:
Safe Zones, safe zones, what are they???

They are irrelevant with pyro.

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

ban-all-sheds said:
They are irrelevant with pyro.

Just irrelevant, you can bang a nail through pyro just as easily as a bit of T&E.

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

Compression tool on left is for the plastic compression pots and seals I mentioned earlier, on the right, the conventional compression tool for brass pots.

ban-all-sheds · 2 Jun 2019

donrkebab said:
Just irrelevant, you can bang a nail through pyro just as easily as a bit of T&E.

Indeed you can, but that does not alter the fact that the regulations say that MICC does not have to be installed in specific zones.

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

ban-all-sheds said:
Indeed you can, but that does not alter the fact that the regulations say that MICC does not have to be installed in specific zones.

Shows how much they know about MICC, or perhaps they're saving it up as new reg up for their next book. The 19th edition must be due out soon.

JohnW2 · 2 Jun 2019

donrkebab said:
Shows how much they know about MICC...

It shows that they do know that MICC "incorporates an earthed metallic covering" and therefore, per 522.6.204(i), does not have to be installed in 'safe zones', even when <50mm deep.

JohnW2 · 2 Jun 2019

winston1 said:
Just another example of the regs being stupid.

I wouldn't say that it is any more 'stupid' than requiring cables without earthed coverings that are <50mm deep in safe zones to be RCD-protected - do you think that is also stupid?

In both cases, whether achieved by an earthed covering or an RCD, it's about a protective device disconnecting the supply in the case of a fault due to penetration of the cable, NOT about mechanical protection (against penetration) of the cable.

Kind Regards, John

donrkebab · 2 Jun 2019

JohnW2 said:
It shows that they do know that MICC "incorporates an earthed metallic covering" and therefore, per 522.6.204(i), does not have to be installed in 'safe zones', even when <50mm deep.

As usual, refusing to accept something written in plain english. And any person implying that cables can be buried over 50mm deep is a complete fool, and should not be allowed to dream up regulations. When they dream up illogical regs don't be surprised if it starts the rot of regs being ignored and treated with contempt. And therefore make electrical installations less safe, but its obvious they're only interest is selling books.

ban-all-sheds · 2 Jun 2019

donrkebab said:
As usual, refusing to accept something written in plain english.

AFAICT it is you who is doing that.

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Heat shrink MICC terminations

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