Flex used instead of cable.

[stilllearning]

Hi, I looked at a friends new kitchen today who had a bit of a nightmare with the sparky who wired it. Sockets weren't straight or in line; some "only work if you bang the plug" cables were cut too short and joined with tape etc etc.

He's also used 0.5mm 2 CORE FLEX from the consumer unit to the kitchen cupboards (about 15 metres) to power some pelmet lights.

My friend's been in touch with another electrician who will put the job right but one thing concerns me, he's planning to leave in the 2 core flex that feeds the lights but re-connect via a fused spur which he'll site next to the CU. Is this safe/legal/advisable? I'm in the early stages of training but I'd have thought it would be safer (although more messy) to replace the flex with 1.5 or 1mm T&E right upto the cupboards. Any thoughts?

 

[securespark]

Flexible cable is allowed in 7671.

If the guy is confident in his calculations, and there is an appropriate fuse (is it 3A for 0.5mm²?), and volt drop is not a problem & the fittings are Class II, then it should be OK.

But personally, I'd either incorporate them into the lighting circuit or run them oof a local fused spur off the Ring.

 

[Adam_151]

Not convinced this meets 471-08-08

(A cpc must be run to every point except a lampholder having no exposed conductive parts thats also suspended from such a point)

 

[securespark]

Could you classify a Class II under-cupboard light fitting this way?

 

[Adam_151]

Could you classify a Class II under-cupboard light fitting this way?

My 2p...

It'd be difficult to, its a luminaire and while a lampholder is counted as a luminaire (re: defs) that doesn't mean all luminaires count as mere lamp holders!

plus even if you could do it on a technicality, its against the spirit of the regs, as its clearly intended to refer to the drop flex from a rose to a lampholder

 

[ColJack]

undercupboards will probably be LV with transformers above the cabinets..

not every transformer has an earth connection so it would not be needed...

as long as the cable isn't buried in the wall then there should be no problems as long as the connections are in terminal block boxes and it's fused down correctly..

if they are the strip light type then these also tend to be 2 core figure 8 plugs so no earths there either..

 

[stilllearning]

Hi folks, thanks for all your replies.

In response to the comment made by Coljack, the flex IS buried in the wall.

As I say, I'm not in any position to criticise someone elses work as I've not got the experience but I'm guessing from your comments that while this maybe safe it's not the best way to carry-out an installation??

Cheers

 

[Steve3948]

At 15M in length I would class this as fixed hard wiring to a domestic dwelling which should incorporate a bare cpc for protection, regarding damage to cable.

 

[stilllearning]

Thanks Steve3948.

I just can't figure what advantage he gained using flex in the first place, especially as it's been run under floors and walls.

Thanks again

 

[RF Lighting]

0.5mm² 2 core flex: 30p per meter

1.0mm² twin and earth: 63p per meter