- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 23,763
- Reaction score
- 2,680
- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
- Country
If cable is not buried then as long as it is not going to be damaged then flex or flat twin and earth can be installed as they stand. Where buried then consideration has to be given to material it's buried in. Most plaster today is OK but would not bury in lime plaster some times used with listed buildings.
The Ali-tube cable can be great where one wants something to look neat. Very like mineral insulated it can be trimmed so very straight unlike flex or twin and earth.
Ali-tube is often used for fire alarms I looked for a picture but they only show the end of the cable with fire alarms often red but for normal mains normally white Guardian Ali-Tube/LSZH Cable BS8436 is an example. Cost more than twin and earth but looks better.
Ali-tube was designed for use in stud walls if you damage the cable unlike twin and earth it should always open the automatic disconnection device (fuse or MCB) rather than make any parts live (i.e. picture hook) and so does not need RCD protection when buried in a wall. But cost means it not normally used in houses.
Mineral cable is often used in listed buildings one can scrap out a little mortar between the stones hid the cable and re-point however it requires some skill to terminate so is unsuitable for DIY use. Often it is hard without seeing gland to tell between Ali-tube and Mineral insulated cable.
The Ali-tube cable can be great where one wants something to look neat. Very like mineral insulated it can be trimmed so very straight unlike flex or twin and earth.
Ali-tube is often used for fire alarms I looked for a picture but they only show the end of the cable with fire alarms often red but for normal mains normally white Guardian Ali-Tube/LSZH Cable BS8436 is an example. Cost more than twin and earth but looks better.
Ali-tube was designed for use in stud walls if you damage the cable unlike twin and earth it should always open the automatic disconnection device (fuse or MCB) rather than make any parts live (i.e. picture hook) and so does not need RCD protection when buried in a wall. But cost means it not normally used in houses.
Mineral cable is often used in listed buildings one can scrap out a little mortar between the stones hid the cable and re-point however it requires some skill to terminate so is unsuitable for DIY use. Often it is hard without seeing gland to tell between Ali-tube and Mineral insulated cable.
