Pitacs T&E cable quality

^woody^ · 25 Oct 2020

I've got some Pitacs 2.5mm cable from toolstation, and noticed that the outer sheathing is a dark gray, not very flexible and tears very easily.

It's supposed to be to standard and British made, but I wondered if there was something wrong with it or if that's the way it is from this manufacturer?

flameport · 25 Oct 2020

Pitacs / Time is a UK company. Extremely doubtful if the cable is actually made here, checking a couple of their DoP certificates reveals it's made in Turkey.
https://www.timecables.co.uk/cpr-compliance
Turkey is also where a massive amount of recalled cable came from a decade or so ago. Coincidence?

Prysmian or Doncaster cables for UK made.

333rocky333 · 25 Oct 2020

Does it have BASEC stamped on it
https://www.basec.org.uk/search/

https://www.toolstation.com/pitacs-twin-earth-cable-6242y-grey/p26103

ericmark · 25 Oct 2020

Seem to remember Woolworth in Australia had a problem with cable made in China where the plasticiser was leaching out, and had to pay for house rewires to replace it, however it is a bit warmer there. Also we had a problem with cable in the Falklands when brought through the tropics, the plastic was much harder after being heated and cooled.

RF Lighting · 25 Oct 2020

I generally use prysmiam cable and have done for years. Having said that, I had a dodgy drum of 2.5mm² 6242Y cable purchased from a well known electrical factors 2 weeks ago where the sheath was virtually impossible to remove from the insulation.

I have used pitacs cable previously and never noticed any real issues with it.

^woody^ · 26 Oct 2020

333rocky333 said:
Does it have BASEC stamped on it
https://www.basec.org.uk/search/

https://www.toolstation.com/pitacs-twin-earth-cable-6242y-grey/p26103

Yes its stamped with BASEC.

I'm not convinced by the Tooltstation reviews though. They look like they were all written by the same intern.

Except one

^woody^ · 26 Oct 2020

I've used it now anyway for the initial purpose around the garage, but whilst I did get the larger roll for future use, with about 40m left, I would not fancy using it if it was concealed.

Every time I nicked the sheathing with the knife and then was able to just rip the sheathing off and tear it like thick paper, made me think that it was not right, and with the dark colour I wondered if something was missing from the mix!

Worst cable I've ever come across.

333rocky333 · 26 Oct 2020

Cable does seem different this century compared with old school, a lot of it now does feel odd, a lot i think to do with making it low smoke and fumes.
Some i have seen aint even flat anymore and like a figure 8 profile

securespark · 27 Oct 2020

^woody^ said:
Except one

I wouldn't take it down the tip.

I would bell BASEC and raise your concerns (01908 267 300), then return it direct to them for testing and demand a refund from Tool Station depending on their assessment.

EDIT: Wake up, Secure.....

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Pitacs T&E cable quality

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