3 Core + Earth Wiring Help

[James from Yorkshire]

Hello everyone,

When I put my patio in I asked my electrician to put me a cable under it to a the center where there is a graveled area ready for a water feature. I've now added the pond and come to wire in the pump and filter using the following 4-way power controller:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-4-way-weatherproof-power-controller/20964

My issue is, the cable installed is a 3 core + earth (Black, grey, brown, blue cables inside) and i'm now stumped how to wire this in to the live, neutral and earth in the switch. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

FYI, cable i have is this one:

http://www.qvsdirect.com/1-5mm-19a-4-core-armoured-cable-50m-drum

PLEASE HELP (my ponds getting greener by the minute)

 

[JohnW2]

When I put my patio in I asked my electrician to put me a cable under it to a the center where there is a graveled area ready for a water feature. ..... My issue is, the cable installed is a 3 core + earth (Black, grey, brown, blue cables inside) and i'm now stumped how to wire this in to the live, neutral and earth in the switch. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you are to be spared investigative work (which may or may not be within your capabilities), you really need to ask the electrician how he wired the cable. What did he do with the pond-end of this armoured cable? If it's not connected to anything, you'll probably need the electrician to properly deal with 'terminating' the armoured cable for you, anyway.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

When I put my patio in I asked my electrician to put me a cable under it to a the center where there is a graveled area ready for a water feature.

Was the cable just to take power there, or to also supply equipment and/or other accessories?

I've now added the pond and come to wire in the pump and filter using the following 4-way power controller:

Why one with 4 switches? Do you have 4 things to control? Where do you plan to mount the item?

My issue is, the cable installed is a 3 core + earth (Black, grey, brown, blue cables inside)

That is NOT 3 core + earth, it's a 4-core cable. One of the cores may be used as an earth, or it may not, but none of them are sleeved to indicate that they are.

It really is very worrying that

a) You think one of them is an earth
b) You seem to be doing electrical work on the basis of unverified assumptions.

and i'm now stumped how to wire this in to the live, neutral and earth in the switch. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You need to identify the cores. I strongly advise getting an electrician.

There are tests which are needed before the cable can be put into use which you probably won't be able to do. I strongly advise getting an electrician.

If this is just a cable, not yet connected to anything then it may count as a new circuit, which requires Building Regulations approval.

FYI, cable i have is this one:

http://www.qvsdirect.com/1-5mm-19a-4-core-armoured-cable-50m-drum

Do you have and know how to install SWA glands?

Is that BG enclosure suitable for glanding SWA to it?