3 core (flex/T+E) no earth

[ldoodle]

Hey,

Does this exist? My bathroom fan has no earth terminal (class 2), and the connector block doesn't have space for a terminal block left hanging around.

It needs 3 wires: neutral, switch live, run-on timer live. All are fed from a fan isolator.

My CU has 6A breakers (RCBOs) with 1mm cable for the lighting circuit.

Thanks

 

[Blueflash]

The earth may have been cut back (off). If the fan is class 2, no worries !

Dave

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Dave - he is looking for 3-core flex with no earth core, not reporting that he has that.

ldoodle - you should use 4-core flex, as even if the fan doesn't need an earth, one should be taken to the location. Post a photo of the inside, there must surely be somewhere to tuck an unused core.....

 

[sparkwright]

Alternatively, you can perhaps use flat 3 core+earth cable, again this will have an earth wire (which needs to be sleeved with a green and yellow sleeve).

 

[ldoodle]

ldoodle - you should use 4-core flex, as even if the fan doesn't need an earth, one should be taken to the location. Post a photo of the inside, there must surely be somewhere to tuck an unused core.....

The distance from the fan isolator to the fan is like 1m, so no worries replacing it if class 1 fan is ever used

I just hate the idea of having something left 'floating' around. I'm currently using 3-core+E flat (with E cut back) as I had some left.

I'll take a pic tomorrow.

 

[ldoodle]

Is the earth core in flex slightly smaller like in T+E? If I uprated to 1.5mm 3-core flex could I sleeve the earth core?!!!!!!!!!

I know I could - so really asking how frowned upon that would be

 

[EFLImpudence]

Is the earth core in flex slightly smaller like in T+E?

No, it's the same size.

If I uprated to 1.5mm 3-core flex could I sleeve the earth core?!!!!!!!!!

Why would you do that for a fan?
The earth in flex is insulated. Tecnically you may sleeve it.

 

[ldoodle]

The earth in flex is insulated.

Yeah I meant over-sleeve it, like you do with switch-lives.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, it is allowed, although, I think, no one agrees it should be.

Can you not buy a piece of 4 core?

(i did edit my previous post as I thought you were talking about T&E)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The distance from the fan isolator to the fan is like 1m, so no worries replacing it if class 1 fan is ever used

412.2.3.2 Except where Regulation 412.1.3 applies, a circuit supplying one or more items of Class II equipment shall have a circuit protective conductor run to and terminated at each point in wiring and at each accessory.​

In this case 412.1.3 does not apply (it cannot in a domestic house), so that means that a protective conductor must be taken to each point in the wiring, whether it it is required there or not.

 

[ldoodle]

My downlights are class 2 too, with a 2 terminal terminal block. There is literally no where for an earth conductor to sit, other than outside the terminal block in a floating additional terminal block. That means I'd have to pull the earth conductor back through the sheathing, or just cut it off.

https://d3jngao6jrxthd.cloudfront.n...fire-resistant-instructions-class3-issue4.pdf

 

[ban-all-sheds]

They would not be the only products made in a way which prevents them being installed in compliance with the Wiring Regulations.

 

[sparkwright]

The distance from the fan isolator to the fan is like 1m, so no worries replacing it if class 1 fan is ever used

I just hate the idea of having something left 'floating' around. I'm currently using 3-core+E flat (with E cut back) as I had some left.

I'll take a pic tomorrow.

What you have already is basically the way it is done.

Generally 3 core+e flat is used for fixed wiring with fans, ie the cable is concealed and not on display.

Flex could be used, though flat is the norm.

The earth cable should be connected at the fan switch.

At the fan end, it needs to be terminated in a small connector block.

If there really, really, really isn't room then I suppose it going to have to be cut off, but leaving some slack somewhere in the whole cable so it can be altered later, when a new fan should get fitted.

I suppose some heat shrinking over the end of the cable sheath would keep that bare cut off earth wire nice and tidy, but TBH that wonuldn't happen in the real world.

You don't want the end of the bare earth stabbing itself into one of the other wires, so attention to this is very important.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

At the fan end, it needs to be terminated in a small connector block.

If there really, really, really isn't room then I suppose it going to have to be cut off

Post a photo of the inside, there must surely be somewhere to tuck an unused core.....