Ban the sale of twin and earth ? ?

[sparkwright]

I don't understand the issue of clamping or glanding twin and earth cable.

Twin and earth cable is for fixed wiring only.

If you needed to clamp a twin and earth cable you could use a box with a cord grip - a 6 mm2 cable emerging from a cooker switch box is the common example.

Usually you wouldn't need to clamp a twin and earth cable.

A cts or stuffing gland would clamp a twin and earth cable emerging from a surface accessory if the cable seemed likely to be tugged, or if a large round knockout hole needed to be reduced.

 

[SimonH2]

How is it clamped at ceiling roses? and at boxes in stud walls? and at standard round jb's? terminations into fuseboards?

Use the right products - if you want such things with strain reliefs then buy the right stuff. And, if you wire with round cable, how would you do it using the same roses and boxes ? Answer, exactly the same way because you'd be happy without strain relief on cables and fittings that aren't subject to movement and where the cables are fixed in place.

Do you apply the same complaint to all round cables that aren't SWA ?

All circular cables have their own glanding system or can use stuffing glands.

So does T+E - just a few seconds with a search engine came up with saddle clamps and glands designed for T+E

Presumably you don't use any power tools at all, ever ?

I'm not sure what you mean, but all flexes in power tools are clamped to the tool.

Indeed, you seem content with (for example) a saddle clamp on the flex where it goes into a 13A or 16A plug, why not on a flat cable ? ANywhere you can use a round cable, you can use a flat one - at least I can't think of any situations where that's not the case.

Secondly, I think you are actually mistaken that there is no clamping or glanding method method available for flat oval cables.

Very recently a german? company have manufactured glands with oblong inserts for T&E, but T&E has been around for over 50 years.

Err, you're voting against yourself there ! You complain that there's no glanding system for T+E and then state that there is ! It's not much of a complaint to say that there didn't used to be, but now there is !

OK, I'm not actually aware of anything being sold here in the UK,

So why tell me I'm wrong?

I didn't say there wasn't any system, only that I'm not aware of anything being sold here - there's a big difference.

but they both exist in the US where they use essentially the same type of cable (generally referred to as Romex I believe).

They've also got a lot of fat people over there, but thats irrelevant as well.

No it's not irrelevant - if you want saddle clamps and sealed glands for T+E, you can have them as they are available to buy - if you choose not to use them then that's your choice. I've even given you enough information to find them if you actually want to.
Presumably you've been using T&E all these years so you must have been happy that it's been safe to use. So which is it - it's safe to use as we do now and you're just spouting off; or it's not safe and you've been doing dangerous (and therefore illegal) installations for years ?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

trollfood

Don't feed the troll.

trollfood

Don't feed the troll.

 

[holmslaw]

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[holmslaw]

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[holmslaw]

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[SimonH2]

So does T&E if you use suitable fittings/accessories. On the other hand, fit round cables into the same fittings/accessories you normally use for T&E and they are equally not secured.

So your argument seems to be that because you are using what, by your own admission, are unsuitable fittings/accessories for the job, the cable which is not at fault should be banned. What's more, you seem to be saying that most of the work you've done in the past is knowingly unsafe ?

As has already been pointed out to you, everything you need to secure the sheath of T&E into fittings is available if you choose the right items.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Troll food

Don't feed the troll.

 

[holmslaw]

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[holmslaw]

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[LooPrEvil]

I am not a sparky, but I do not see a problem with twin and earth. Why insulate the earth throughout the entire length of the reel when in essence only a few inches of each cut length require insulating? If it helps keep the costs down then surely it is a good thing?

I realise I will probably be shot to pieces now, but will respect the views of you professionals!

 

[Alarm]

Another reason the earth (cpc) is not sheathed all along is the principle that if the line or neutral is damaged along its length there is more chance of making contact with the cpc and activating a RCD.

Or so I was taught anyway

 

[JohnW2]

I am not a sparky, but I do not see a problem with twin and earth. Why insulate the earth throughout the entire length of the reel when in essence only a few inches of each cut length require insulating? If it helps keep the costs down then surely it is a good thing? I realise I will probably be shot to pieces now, but will respect the views of you professionals!

Goodness only knows whether you'll be shot to pieces (some of the loose cannons here are pretty unpredictable!) but, if it's any consolation, I think that every sane person here would probably agree with what you've said. The idiotic view being expressed here that twin & earth cable should be 'banned' is nothing to do with the bare 'earth' wire (correctly called 'CPC' - Circuit Protective Conductor - these days).

In fact, it's actually a good thing that the 'earth' wire should be bare. That means that if the insulation of a 'live' conductor gets damaged, the exposed live conductor is likely to touch the bare 'earth'one, and thereby trip one of the protective devices.

Kind Regards, John.

 

[holmslaw]

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[holmslaw]

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