Correct cable for inside a fluorescent fitting?

[Deleted member 18243]

I have replaced a ballast in a 2 x 58w tube office light fitting. It now works OK but someone in the past has made a mess of the incoming mains cable to the fitting. This incoming cable (1.5mm T&E) mustn't have been long enough, and so it has been extended by joining a further length of T&E via a plastic terminal strip. Insulation tape has been wrapped around the join, and the "bulge" created almost touches one of the tubes.

Obviously I want to correct this, first by using a junction box in the ceiling above the fitting, and then running a new cable into the fitting from it. My question is what type of cable should I use? The cable will run about 200mm inside the fitting before reaching the terminal block. Do I need special heat resistant cable or will ordinary 1.5mm suffice?

Thanks.

 

[Spark123]

How close to the tube?
Is it exposed to UV?

 

[Deleted member 18243]

How close to the tube?
Is it exposed to UV?

The cable runs parallel to the tube and about 25mm away from it.

It isn't exposed to UV.

 

[Spark123]

it shouldn't get too warm that far away either so flat twin and earth will be OK.

 

[streetlighter]

1.5mm twin and CPC is the cable of choice for most streetlighting installs for the internal wiring of the coulmn from cutout to lantern.
In some fittings we sleeve the cores with heat resistive sleeving as the bigger lamps get quite hot.

 

[hairyben]

On a similar note, whats the solid core white cable lighting manufacturers use called?

I've got a 8x 58w sign light to rewire- morons who made it originally ran the cables through the terry clips holding the lamps, unsurprisingly it's gone all toasty and crystalised. Cables oozing green goo too, odd given it's only about 5 years old.

 

[333rocky333]

On a similar note, whats the solid core white cable lighting manufacturers use called?

You can get it at RS part No 183 9225
Also brown and blue and earth also available there.

 

[Spark123]

Think this is the type of wire you normally find inside the fluory fittings: http://cpc.farnell.com/CB09497/cable-wire-connectors/product.us0?sku=pro-power-1-0-8-hr-white-100m

 

[Deleted member 18243]

OK, thanks everybody.

 

[hairyben]

cheers m'dears.

now gotta hire a scaffold tower to repair the freaking thing, not really an extension ladder job.

 

[streetlighter]

Or you could use a vehicle mounted platform, would be easier and safer assuming that getting the van in position is not a problem.