Joining Armoured Cable together.

psd99 · 15 Jul 2017 at 20:47

the cable has writing on it
19069.0 2016

trying to work out what that means.....

Jokester · 15 Jul 2017 at 20:58

Is that all that's written on it? Would have expected core count, csa and max voltage as a minimum on the outer sheath.

psd99 · 16 Jul 2017 at 08:01

that is all I can see

I'm going to open the junction box on the inside of the garage and show y'all a picture of what that looks like when I get a chance.

NoobCannon · 16 Jul 2017 at 09:17

Will be 3 core 6mm i reckon.

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 08:44

I think it is 3 core too

these are my mundane attempts at pics such a shame what they did to photoshop so using tinpic now which is as useless as some people I know!

is the 6mm the circumference around the wire?

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 08:46

photobucket I meant*

it seems they've put the earth together with either live or neutral not sure why
I wish I paid more attention to this when I got the wiring done in the whole house.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 17 Jul 2017 at 08:50

Hmm well its deffo armoured

But looks like the armour is not earthed so that pretty much negates my theory I am afraid

6mm relates to the copper element

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 08:56

what was your theory again?

I was hoping you'd look at that and see something glaringly obvious like it's not been earthed that is your problem right there. shame.

got to be nicked slightly underground and needs repairing.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 17 Jul 2017 at 11:59

psd99 said:
what was your theory again?

I was hoping you'd look at that and see something glaringly obvious like it's not been earthed that is your problem right there. shame.

got to be nicked slightly underground and needs repairing.

theory that shielding is earthed and is nicked and causing your problems, its still possible its earthed at the other end but unlikely one end would be and the other not imo

worth just checking the other end as well I guess, you should never rule out a loose wire etc before you start digging!

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 12:01

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
theory that shielding is earthed and is nicked and causing your problems, its still possible its earthed at the other end but unlikely one end would be and the other not imo

worth just checking the other end as well I guess, you should never rule out a loose wire etc before you start digging!

so basically open the whole RCD and check whether on the RCD side the earth wire is connected in the same way?

If it Is NOT the same, then what shall I do? (rather check first this than dig up my lovely turf)

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 17 Jul 2017 at 12:12

If at the other end the shielding is connected to earth then its your call

If you have nicked the earth only then it could be causing the trip, disconnecting this may stop it.
But I am certainly not saying thats the right thing to do, there seems to be some dispute amongst electricians on using the shielding as a secondary earth or not. Try googling it to see the different views.

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 12:28

ok thanks

I will check the RCD first, I bet it is wired the same way.

Syla5 · 17 Jul 2017 at 13:30

psd99 said:
photobucket I meant*

it seems they've put the earth together with either live or neutral not sure why
I wish I paid more attention to this when I got the wiring done in the whole house.

It wouldn't work if that was the case. If you look closely the wire that has been wrapped in earth tape (grey core), and your neutral go to different points. I thought the same as you at first glance but that is not the case.

psd99 · 17 Jul 2017 at 14:23

Syla5 said:
It wouldn't work if that was the case. If you look closely the wire that has been wrapped in earth tape (grey core), and your neutral go to different points. I thought the same as you at first glance but that is not the case.

so basically the earth wire connects to nowhere!

samcat · 17 Jul 2017 at 15:11

psd99 said:
so basically the earth wire connects to nowhere!

Dont think so, looking at your pic there are bare copper tails running to the other side of the terminal that earth is screwed into. Supposed to be covered in green/yellow tape or tubing.

Syla5 · 17 Jul 2017 at 15:39

psd99 said:
so basically the earth wire connects to nowhere!

No the earth connects to the earth block in the black box.

NoobCannon · 17 Jul 2017 at 22:14

Thats the nastyiest looking way to terminate an armourd cable ive ever seen!

If you have a volt meter disconnect the cable (both ends) and check the resistance of all the cores to earth one by one. And then check them all to the armour one by one. And if you still dont find anything check between eachother

We test with a megger at work (500/1000v) to earth but you should hopefully be able to see if someings fubar with a normal meter.

And yes 6mm is the conductor size, will be 1.5mm armour.

Where are you located out of interest?

psd99 · 18 Jul 2017 at 10:08

NoobCannon said:
Thats the nastyiest looking way to terminate an armourd cable ive ever seen!

If you have a volt meter disconnect the cable (both ends) and check the resistance of all the cores to earth one by one. And then check them all to the armour one by one. And if you still dont find anything check between eachother

We test with a megger at work (500/1000v) to earth but you should hopefully be able to see if someings fubar with a normal meter.

And yes 6mm is the conductor size, will be 1.5mm armour.

Where are you located out of interest?

cheers mate sent you a message in trust.

NoobCannon · 18 Jul 2017 at 10:43

Have replied mate

ZG002 · 18 Jul 2017 at 11:38

That is a pretty poor installation tbh, I wouldn't be surprised if something wasn't a miss in the garage if that's how they terminate a SWA.