Split Concentric

[Lectrician]

Many people know about and use Split Concentric Cable. It is more abundant in some areas than others.

I stripped out some THREE PHASE split concentric the other day, and so took the oportunity to take a couple pics.

I have also put some pics below that were taken a couple years back for reference.

I know how we all like our pics.....

SPLIT CONCENTRIC

STRAIGHT CONCENTRIC

THREE PHASE SPLIT CONCENTRIC

 

[1john]

Seen in installed up in birmingham but never seen it around here unless in a DNO capacity obviously.

 

[xr4x4]

What are the advantages?

 

[xr4x4]

Also, whats the single White cable for?

 

[westie101]

What are the advantages?

From a DNO point of view it complies with the requirement to have a live core surrounded with metalwork connected to earth, no need as in the case of SWA to have an additional earthed outer (the SWA)

Also, whats the single White cable for?

It just a plastic filler/spacer

 

[SimonH2]

What are the advantages?

Apart from the one of having live cores "protected" inside earth/neutral, it's also more space efficient. To get the same conductors into a round cable means either lots of filler (making the cable bigger), or non-round cores (triangular for a 3 core cable).

I haven't seen this other than the mains supply into a building, and I never really thought about it's availability for general use. I'd imagine it's easier than regular cable (in some ways) to work with as those small cores are going to be quite flexible - even when bundled up.

 

[westie101]

I'd imagine it's easier than regular cable (in some ways) to work with as those small cores are going to be quite flexible - even when bundled up.

For the copper conductored types, yes. DNOs tend to use solid aluminium cores that are net very flexible

 

[Lectrician]

Alu stays where you bend it.
Dno's dont tend to use Alu so much these days, certainly not in these small sizes.

Splitcon is far easier to install than the t&e counterpart, is cost comparative, is fully table 54g compliant (forget 17th table no.), looks neater when clipped/cleated.

The fact it has the live surrounded by N & E should be disregarded when used under BS7671. It Is not swa and cannot take the place of swa.

 

[westie101]

Dno's dont tend to use Alu so much these days, certainly not in these small sizes.

Er, I work for a DNO, we do not at present use any cable, except singles & 4mm2 street lighting supply concentric, that has copper cores, this is from house service cable up to 33kV