MICC

KennyKen · Jun 21, 2021

So been on an Electrical FB page, generally milling around. It’s an Australian page.

A thread come up about a guy installing single core MICC for mains and he was unsure how to do it, or lacked knowledge on stripping, potting and sealing. Fair enough. It’s a dying art. Although I couldn’t help but wonder from a reply from another sparky, where they stipulate that pots and compound are no longer used? Apparently an extract from the Aussie regs. Do the UK still use Pots and compound to seal Pyros?

Pete999 · Jun 21, 2021

KennyKen said:
So been on an Electrical FB page, generally milling around. It’s an Australian page.

A thread come up about a guy installing single core MICC for mains and he was unsure how to do it, or lacked knowledge on stripping, potting and sealing. Fair enough. It’s a dying art. Although I couldn’t help but wonder from a reply from another sparky, where they stipulate that pots and compound are no longer used? Apparently an extract from the Aussie regs. Do the UK still use Pots and compound to seal Pyros?

As far as I;m aware yes they do, been out of the trade for a good few years now, so my assumption may be wrong.

littlespark · Jun 21, 2021

I don’t reckon self amalgamating tape is strong enough to stop the cores from touching the outer sheath under a bit of pressure…. Waterproofing, maybe, but not mechanical movement.

Dustydazzler · Jun 21, 2021

using Tape to seperate the cores seems like a temporary lash up

might as well do away with swa glands as well while we are at it and just use a bit of tape For everything

Julie. · Jun 21, 2021

Sounds like someone who hasn't a clue about pyro, and covering their poor work up by spouting BS.

No manufacturer of pyro would say that's acceptable, and therefore no national body/authority would go against manufacturers' recommendations and say "put a bit of tape on it".

telectrix · Jun 21, 2021

and let's do away with these expensive CUs. feed all circuits direct from the ~~meter~~ cut-out. (DIYers...don't do this at home. employ a registered dwelling installer.they've had 5 days intensive traing for just this purpose). ???

Dustydazzler · Jun 21, 2021

I would go even further Tel and do away with lightswitches as well and simply touch the cores together to complete the circuit

the Revolution is coming

KennyKen · Jun 21, 2021

Julie. said:
Sounds like someone who hasn't a clue about pyro, and covering their poor work up by spouting BS.

No manufacturer of pyro would say that's acceptable, and therefore no national body/authority would go against manufacturers' recommendations and say "put a bit of tape on it".

My thoughts exactly, I did ask whether that meets manufacturers requirements and specifications. The Bodge is real.

Dustydazzler · Jun 21, 2021

KennyKen said:
My thoughts exactly, I did ask whether that meets manufacturers requirements and specifications. The Bodge is real.

Taping up cores and not bothering using the gland is different level badgery (bodgery)

Can’t see anyway of justification for a taped up micc cable is anything other than a very temporary emergency fix

Dustydazzler · Jun 21, 2021

This is how a pro repairs pyro the proper way

UNG · Jun 21, 2021

The only alternative to the pot and compound I know of for MICC was the shrink on seal and they have not been manufactured since the mid 80's, in fact a company I owned back then got the last remaining stock of them from BICC having spoken to the BICC rep a few weeks earlier he turned up at our office on afternoon and emptied most of the contents of his brief case on my desk with the comment when you have used all of these you won't get any more as this is the total UK if not global stock that is left

Just found this Aussie site

How do I terminate MICC Pyro Cable? | Find out now

Pyrosales distributes MICC cable (Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable) and accessories. MICC Pyro Cable Termination Instruction. Learn how its done.

www.pyrosales.com.au

No mention of the down under tape method of termination

UNG · Jun 21, 2021

Dustydazzler said:
This is how a pro repairs pyro the proper way

It doesn't look like he is a pro that has made off that many Pyro's before doing that video

A bare Pyro with a bit of damp and let's just keep stripping it back when a little bit of warming with a heat gun or blowtorch would have dried it out

Would a pro do that job that way and with the materials he used I doubt it what was the problem with putting a gland on the Pyro and using a proper conduit through box if the Pyro dried out with a bit of warming it would have probably connected straight to the switch

snowhead · Jun 21, 2021

So I did what was suggested in the reply and Googled it.
Yes it would appear that for SINGLE core MICC there is a kit available which uses self amalg tape instead of a pot.
This is for AWG 6 gauge and above (16mm2)

Sized Up QuickTerm Termination Kit

nVent PYROTENAX Sized up QuickTerm Termination Kit is a range of kits used to field-terminate #6 AWG and larger single conductor copper sheathed mineral insulated (MI) wiring cable in non-hazardous areas. It is sized-up, allowing the MI solid conductor to be joined to a larger size flexible tail...

pyrotenax.nvent.com

Jump to 7.15 in the video;

Lucien Nunes · Jun 21, 2021

Self-amalg will work on single-core because there are no gaps and awkward angles between conductors nor a risk of spreading them apart into contact with the sheath. But TBH I don't see the point, it might be called 'Quickterm' but it probably takes as long to do properly as fitting and filling a pot. It saves a quid (or a buck) but any job using single-core MI is not about saving a buck here and there.

stevethesparks · Jun 23, 2021

What a horrible way to terminate a pyro. I trust the Self amalgamating tape supplied will be rated at a high temperature? Cant see how?.
One thing I agree with in the video, is not to blow excess mineral out but to tap it out, although this method I had previously suggested some time ago on this forum led to ridicule from some members here.
I stand by that as was trained that way.