For smoke alarms I think
... as I hope you realised (but I suppose I should have typed explicitly!) I meant "what do they make it for other than smoke alarms"!Do you think/believe that (m)any of those installing alarms actually use it?
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Aico alarm wiring instructions
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... as I hope you realised (but I suppose I should have typed explicitly!) I meant "what do they make it for other than smoke alarms"!Do you think/believe that (m)any of those installing alarms actually use it?
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Very doubtful
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Quite so. I presume that virtually none of them even know that it exists!
How on earth did you find it (in a 'welding store')?
I would not bet on the pictures on amazon being accurate.
4-core flex with a blue conductor certainly exists, I have some in my garage that I *think* came out of a maplin offcuts bag bought sometime in the 1990s or early 2000s. However since grey conductors became a thing in the mid 200s, brown/black/grey seems to have become the norm for 4-core flex. Even though I'd bet the majority of applications for small 4-core flex do include a neutral.
IIRC riestard has said that 4 core with a blue conductor is available in the republic of ireland, but I have no way to verify that. None of the irish wholesalers I could find seemed to have an online catalogue.
You don't need to - you can look on the actually seller's site (click here) , .... where you will find ...
Fair enough (albeit seemingly extremely difficult to find, either here or in Ireland!) but the question then becomes the colour of the 'fourth' conductor - black, white or what?
black.
The only mains cable/flex I've seen with a white conductor was/is american (american 4-core flex seems to be red/black/white/green).
It must be, as the alarms have a battery backup, and the interconnect still works on battery only when the mains supply has failed.
AIUI generally the signalling voltage is within the "ELV" voltage band, but it's referenced to the neutral conductor. So in the event of a lost-neutral or an upstream polarity reversal it could become live at mains voltage.
Good point. In fact, on reflection, I imagine that the whole thing quite probably 'runs from' the battery, with the mains supply (when present) keeping it 'topped up', since that's probably the easiest/cheapest way to do things?
Yep, as flameport has just pointed out, it has to be 'ELV' voltage for it to still work in the absence of mains power. However, as I presume you realise, my point (now moot) was that if it had been LV (and potentially 'line') the 'black' would presumably then theoretically have to be sleeved with brown.
Indeed - in thw UK.
... so how are the Irish meant to comply with Aico's instructions? Use singles, or what?
Ah! To throw somewhat of an ('Anglo-Irish') spanner into the works, I've just found a reel of this on one of my shelves
...That cable also used in central heating systems.
And also useful for outdoor pir lights (in conduit)
Some sparks use red t&e for alarm supply
And also useful for outdoor pir lights (in conduit)
Some sparks use red t&e for alarm supply
Indeed - and, although I honestly can't remember, that could well be the reason I have it (well, the reason I have 5-core flex, not the colours!)!
However, the interesting thing is that, in addition to G/Y, Blue. Brown and Black, the final colour is White,. not the Grey one might have expected.
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