How do you guys keep your cables flat!

[Bazdaa]

I have had to chase down walls in order to extend a ring circuit, as part of the room has a concrete floor. However I'm now rendering over the cables, and cannot keep the damn things flat or in place. I have now had to resort to rendering part of the cable and waiting for it to go off, and then a bit more and so on!

Now I know you guys, don't sit around all day waiting for render to go off! So I'm wondering what you do ?

Things I have tried;

1) Cable grip with small nail - Nail just drops out of the wall!
2) Wickes quick setting mortar - Need I say more. This stuff goes off, while your flattening the cable.
3) Nail the wall and bend it. Nail just bends! This is a serious wall, as I could just about drill throw it, let alond chase it!

 

[masona]

I'm not a electrician but can you not use a capping with gripfill and bedded it on the wall?

 

[Bazdaa]

I knew this would happen, as I'm half way up the wall!

Anyway, gonna go and get stuff now, and see how it goes for the remainder. At least I learnt something to day.

P.S. I did think about conduit, but didnt want to chase more of the wall out!

Cheers

 

[ltfc]

If i was you i would chop out the rendered section cover the whole with said capping and re render, The capping is supposed to prevent damage from plasterers trowel etc, check the cable before you re bury it. You should carry out an insulation test.

 

[sparkybird]

In future, you could put the cables in oval conduit (to protect from plasterers trowel) and then use builders band to secure it at intervals. It won't be going anywhere then!
SB

 

[Lectrician]

Yep, oval conduit. Flatter than you think

We secure it to the wall with long galv nails, one either side of the tube - nails with large heads, such as plasterboard nails. You may need to drill and plug, and bang the nail into the plug.

Always avoid using normal nails/clips/normal screws - they can rust, and show a brown splodge through the render.

 

[Bazdaa]

Thanks for all that, just a question.

I have found 2 types of oval conduit. Do you mean the one shown above, or the full complete oval conduit.

P.S. I ripped out the render, as I'd never have been able to sit in the room!

EDIT; Found it http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...vnum=10&hl=en&lr=&cr=countryUK|countryGB&sa=N

 

[Lectrician]

I always use full oval conduit - the pic above is 'capping'.

Oval conduit will allow you to pull cables through at a later date which is very useful at times.

 

[Bazdaa]

Got the conduit and nails..

Round 3 tomorrow!

 

[Lectrician]

http://www.marshall-tufflex.com/

 

[Bazdaa]

Went for the 25mm conduits and Gal nails option in the end. How easy was that, and very neat! The wierdest thing is, I've used conduit for light switches, which the plaster secured! Aha. For some reason never thought about using it for the ring! First time in that situation I guess.

Masona - Gripfill didn't work for me this time. But I've found somewhere that it does work!

P.S. Tip for anyone else. Don't go into the brick work, use the mortar!

Cheers all.

 

[baldelectrician]

Here's a cheap and effective solution (it would be cheap as i'm Scottish to therefore tight!!!)

If you have a neat raggle (done by a grinder or chaser) cut a bit of mini trunking lid slightly wider, wedge it in and cable held- no nasty nails or screws and bobs your auntie as it were.

hope this helps

stewart
aka the bald one
www.baldelectrician.com