Good Old Delroy, he gets all the best Jobs :)

[Mike Johnson]

I stopped watching Dell boys videos some time ago, the question I answered was why you can't drop a cable down a cavity, I gave an answer to that question and many other vagaries that came about because of it.

 

[mainline]

I stopped watching Dell boys videos some time ago, the question I answered was why you can't drop a cable down a cavity, I gave an answer to that question and many other vagaries that came about because of it.

The real point is that you can if certain criteria is being met.
In Dels case I think it would easily have been achievable, but as usual Del gets it wrong by thinking it's against the Regs.

 

[mainline]

You are now saying a bridge should be avoided. We are in agreement.

My point would be that in this instance he can ensure that no breach would exist as it's open and low, giving easy access.

I have no idea of the layout but assume the demand isn't going to be very high, so depending on the layout would think about a radial/s rather than the ring final.

 

[timhoward]

@mainline your avatar is negatively affecting my monitor ;-)

 

[DPG]

Must admit I like the animated avatar!

 

[Mike Johnson]

The real point is that you can if certain criteria is being met.

OK tell me how you would drop a cable down a cavity and meet the criteria.

 

[mainline]

OK tell me how you would drop a cable down a cavity and meet the criteria.

In Dels instance you come along the top and drop into each socket, i don't know if insulation is there or not but could easily cut a channel for the drops.

 

[Mike Johnson]

The real point is that you can if certain criteria is being met.
In Dels case I think it would easily have been achievable, but as usual Del gets it wrong by thinking it's against the Regs.

No No No the difference between the Del boy situation is the full stop after your first sentence, where you say dropping a cable down a cavity is acceptable "if certain criteria are met" now try to answer the question of how you would meet this criteria in other circumstance's, your answers so far could be very miss-leading to others reading these post who may take your statements as factual whereas the criteria can not be met in a retrospective installation.

 

[mainline]

No No No the difference between the Del boy situation is the full stop after your first sentence, where you say dropping a cable down a cavity is acceptable "if certain criteria are met" now try to answer the question of how you would meet this criteria in other circumstance's, your answers so far could be very miss-leading to others reading these post who may take your statements as factual whereas the criteria can not be met in a retrospective installation.

It is acceptable to run cable in a cavity if the criteria is being met, how can that be seen as miss leading ?.

If you grab a load of cable and stuff it down the cavity causing a bridge or are using cable not suitable for the conditions, then that would obviously wouldn't meet the criteria.
But to say you can't do it would be wrong.

 

[DPG]

It is acceptable to run cable in a cavity if the criteria is being met, how can that be seen as miss leading ?.

If you grab a load of cable and stuff it down the cavity causing a bridge or are using cable not suitable for the conditions, then that would obviously wouldn't meet the criteria.
But to say you can't do it would be wrong.

I'm pretty sure that was the original point. You pretty much can't do it on an existing property.

Obviously in a new build you could do it and avoid Bridges etc, but let's face it in a new build you wouldn't need to use the cavity!!

 

[Mike Johnson]

This is going no where, you will keep saying you can drop cables into a cavity and I will keep saying it is bad practice and unacceptable in any build, any building surveyor or even a quantity surveyor will condemn or want it rectified before approval or payment is made, you stand on your own, but keep posting you will eventually convince some poor soul that they can drop cables down a cavity and then spend extra time rectifying it on a larger project, where "thats what I'm always done" is not acceptable.

 

[mainline]

This is going no where, you will keep saying you can drop cables into a cavity and I will keep saying it is bad practice and unacceptable in any build, any building surveyor or even a quantity surveyor will condemn or want it rectified before approval or payment is made, you stand on your own, but keep posting you will eventually convince some poor soul that they can drop cables down a cavity and then spend extra time rectifying it on a larger project, where "thats what I'm always done" is not acceptable.

Right at the beginning I said there are lots of reasons for NOT doing it but to say its “unacceptable” is completely wrong because it is acceptable if the criteria is met, you may very well not be able to meet that criteria but if you can then it's acceptable.

I guess we now are all going to have nightmares thinking about all the properties that have outside sockets and lights that are going to be scrutinized by Mr building surveyor looking at all the bridges of the cavities.

Have you any thoughts how mains tails are run ?

 

[DPG]

Right at the beginning I said there are lots of reasons for NOT doing it but to say its “unacceptable” is completely wrong because it is acceptable if the criteria is met, you may very well not be able to meet that criteria but if you can then it's acceptable.

I guess we now are all going to have nightmares thinking about all the properties that have outside sockets and lights that are going to be scrutinized by Mr building surveyor looking at all the bridges of the cavities.

Have you any thoughts how mains tails are run ?

My meter tails are run in the cavity for approx 4 feet. It is not a good idea and shouldn't be done. Anyone drilling through for example for an outside tap will hit non-RCD protected tails backed up by a 300 Amp substation fuse. No safe zones, so no idea they are there. Don't use that as a good example.

 

[mainline]

Mike, can you please define 'strawmanning', so the forum can understand where you're coming from

I understand now learn something new every day.

 

[mainline]

My meter tails are run in the cavity for approx 4 feet. It is not a good idea and shouldn't be done. Anyone drilling through for example for an outside tap will hit non-RCD protected tails backed up by a 300 Amp substation fuse. No safe zones, so no idea they are there. Don't use that as a good example.

Your tails wouldn't be acceptable if they met the criteria, then they would be, obviously.

 

[DPG]

Your tails wouldn't be acceptable if they met the criteria, then they would be, obviously.

Exactly - obviously. Nailed it.

 

[Dave OCD]

Just out of interest, how would you wire an outside socket without passing a cable through the wall from inside to out - and even in a bungalow no one in their right mind would run a cable right down the wall outside in a conduit from the loft when there's a nicely placed existing 'back to back' socket inside.

 

[mainline]

Just out of interest, how would you wire an outside socket without passing a cable through the wall from inside to out - and even in a bungalow no one in their right mind would run a cable right down the wall outside in a conduit from the loft when there's a nicely placed existing 'back to back' socket inside.

According to Mike, you can't, it's unacceptable.

In reality, you would drill a hole at a slight angle to the outside world.

 

[Dave OCD]

Always have gone slightly downhill from inside to out, and always try to do the last inch or two without the hammer action, gives a nice clean hole, just like @HappyHippyDad and his electric bog.

 

[DPG]

According to Mike, you can't, it's unacceptable.

In reality, you would drill a hole at a slight angle to the outside world.

Again, that's a different scenario. Obviously you may have to get a cable through the wall, as you would a gas pipe etc . It is not the same as chucking several feet of loose T&E in a cavity to save chasing it!