can you use 3 phase SWA cable for 230vAC single phase?

[JohnW2]

Clearly it's a safety requirement, irrespective of individual views of the need for or wisdom of the Rule.

As I've said, it is only relevant to safety in the hands of less-than-fully-competent electricians. In fact, the ultimate in 'safety' might be to completely do away with colour-identification of conductors, thereby forcing electricians to find out for themselves which conductor was being used for which purpose!

In any event, as EFLI has observed, no amount of 'rules' about identification of conductors can guarantee that all electricians will always connect things correctly.

Even if you asked every electrician in the (any) country, I think you might struggle to find examples of 'safety issues' that had arisen because of terminal over-sleeving of conductors, and I find it hard to believe that electricians in ROI are any less competent, or any more likely to 'make mistakes' than are their counterparts in other countries - so I have to wonder whether there really is any sensible evidence-base foor this 'rule'?

 

[andyr123]

OT - but why are earth wire in T&E not covered in insulation like the other cores?

 

[andyr123]

Yes, seems a bit daft not to use 3 core

3 core & earth?

 

[pete01]

As I've said, it is only relevant to safety in the hands of less-than-fully-competent electricians. In fact, the ultimate in 'safety' might be to completely do away with colour-identification of conductors, thereby forcing electricians to find out for themselves which conductor was being used for which purpose!

In any event, as EFLI has observed, no amount of 'rules' about identification of conductors can guarantee that all electricians will always connect things correctly.

Even if you asked every electrician in the (any) country, I think you might struggle to find examples of 'safety issues' that had arisen because of terminal over-sleeving of conductors, and I find it hard to believe that electricians in ROI are any less competent, or any more likely to 'make mistakes' than are their counterparts in other countries - so I have to wonder whether there really is any sensible evidence-base foor this 'rule'?

But even so it's a rule so just accept and follow it

 

[pete01]

3 core & earth?

Yes that's what I meant

 

[Risteard]

As I've said, it is only relevant to safety in the hands of less-than-fully-competent electricians. In fact, the ultimate in 'safety' might be to completely do away with colour-identification of conductors, thereby forcing electricians to find out for themselves which conductor was being used for which purpose!

In any event, as EFLI has observed, no amount of 'rules' about identification of conductors can guarantee that all electricians will always connect things correctly.

Even if you asked every electrician in the (any) country, I think you might struggle to find examples of 'safety issues' that had arisen because of terminal over-sleeving of conductors, and I find it hard to believe that electricians in ROI are any less competent, or any more likely to 'make mistakes' than are their counterparts in other countries - so I have to wonder whether there really is any sensible evidence-base foor this 'rule'?

Perhaps it's not Electricians that it's intended to protect.

 

[Deleted member 142255]

As I've said, it is only relevant to safety in the hands of less-than-fully-competent electricians. In fact, the ultimate in 'safety' might be to completely do away with colour-identification of conductors, thereby forcing electricians to find out for themselves which conductor was being used for which purpose!

In any event, as EFLI has observed, no amount of 'rules' about identification of conductors can guarantee that all electricians will always connect things correctly.

Even if you asked every electrician in the (any) country, I think you might struggle to find examples of 'safety issues' that had arisen because of terminal over-sleeving of conductors, and I find it hard to believe that electricians in ROI are any less competent, or any more likely to 'make mistakes' than are their counterparts in other countries - so I have to wonder whether there really is any sensible evidence-base foor this 'rule'?

And increase the price of every job because the spark has to now allow time to identify each and every conductor.

What a good idea - not!

 

[andyr123]

when i first moved to Ireland in the early 90's the lighting in the ceiling lights and the wall light switches in our "do'er upper" bungalow was all done in 1.5mm single core brown and blue (oh hold on might even have been red and black) with no earth

 

[sparkwright]

Hi all . Thinking of getting some 13a sockets in the garage/shed and i am going for SWA cable (some cable might have to go underground/under lawn.

so , going for 2.5mm 3 core SWA for the sockets . On the screwfix site though the cores of the cable are coloured Brown, Black, Grey. (I am in rep of Ireland but we have same electrics as UK 230vAC 50hz Brown (Live), Blue (neutral) , Green& Yellow (Earth)

could I use this 3phase 2.5mm swa from screwfix with its wrong colours and wire brown to Live, Black to Neutral and Grey to Earth (put a G&Y sleeve over it or G&Y insulation tape) ? - will it be OK?

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/prysmian-6943x-black-3-core-2-5mm-armoured-cable-25m-coil/38769

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for some reason on the irish site they dont even list SWA cable with the Brown,Blue,G&Y cores - but surely 2.5mm is 2.5mm in whatever colours the insulation is shouldnt that be the case?

Thank you.
Andy.

Why don't you just go to a RoI electrical wholesalers, and get the cable RoI like you to use?

They should sell it by the metre.

 

[andyr123]

And increase the price of every job because the spark has to now allow time to identify each and every conductor.

What a good idea - not!

he/she/they can identify a live wire with a phase screwdriver tester

 

[andyr123]

Why don't you just go to a RoI electrical wholesalers, and get the cable RoI like you to use?

They should sell it by the metre.

I like screwfix - had good experiences with using them in the past , good website, good prices , useful click and collect . its astrange one why our screwfix over here though dont do the swa in brown,blue g&y - sent an email to screwfix and just told me to email their suppliers - still waiting for a reply . only thing i could think is that the electricians maybe get this swa they have got and sleeve the insulation .... but now i hear thats not allowed in Ireland

 

[JohnW2]

But even so it's a rule so just accept and follow it

Yes, one may well do if one lived in a country which has such a rule - but, fortunately, those who are meant to use this ('Electrics UK') forum do not

 

[pete01]

Yes, one may well do if one lived in a country which has such a rule - but, fortunately, those who are meant to use this ('Electrics UK') forum do not

Good point

 

[JohnW2]

And increase the price of every job because the spark has to now allow time to identify each and every conductor. ... What a good idea - not!

I wasn't suggesting that it was a good, or even sensible, idea.

What I was saying is that if people in that country really do believe that the prohibition of over-sleeving is a significant 'safety issue' , then they could address it even further by forcing electricians to 'increase the price of every job' in the manner you mention.

Fortunately, neither you nor I live in such a country, so the issue is moot for us.

 

[JohnW2]

Perhaps it's not Electricians that it's intended to protect.

Perhaps, but that 'intention' would probably be somewhat flawed, since most of those who weren't electricians probably wouldn't understand the relevance of the conductor identification, anyway.