Black PVC twin (and earth) cable

[mattg4321]

Has anyone come across black PVC twin lighting cable before? Working in a house, probably late 50's/early 60's yesterday and found all the lighting wired in black twin PVC cable. No cpc, solid tinned copper core.

I immediately assumed rubber when I saw it but it didn't feel like rubber at all. Quite the opposite. Almost certainly PVC. No signs of any insulation coming off as you would expect with rubber. Very difficult to strip actually. I couldn't pull a conductor to strip away the sheathing, I had to run a knife down the middle.

Never come across this before in 15 years of doing this! Anyone else?

 

[westward10]

We need pics

 

[KEV 1 N]

Could it be some sort of festoon lighting cable??
Probably pinched from the pits back in the day!

 

[Strima]

Could it be some sort of festoon lighting cable??
Probably pinched from the pits back in the day!

Could be but the festoon stuff I used to play with was VIR, and full of holes from the ----- ons funnily enough...

 

[Leesparkykent]

Sounds like TRS.

Edit:maybe not as didn't read op correctly

 

[ruston]

Or grey saturated with years of soot.

 

[telectrix]

 

[GeorgeCooke]

I've come across black PVC 7/029 twin and earth once. It was feeding a bathroom wall heater from a FCU in the airing cupboard. The feed to the FCU (spur off the ring) was normal grey stuff.

I also assumed it was rubber but like you when I touched it it was certainly PVC.

 

[freddo]

Yes saw some recently that was powering some lights on a church organ. Appeared to be 3/.029.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I've never seen this stuff for real. If anyone can liberate some for the museum it would be much appreciated!

 

[freddo]

Not black PVC but found some white rubber t+e during a rewire this week. Only seen it once before. I don't know why this short piece was there between a socket and FCU as all the other wiring was PVC. Marked British Insulated Cables Limited. Cable is 3/.029

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Seen that black T&E used in Gibraltar.

 

[Andy78]

Never seen any of that. I came across some cloth covered VIR twin recently though, never seen that before either.

 

[freddo]

I have a load of that cloth covered poly butyl jute cable somewhere in a few sizes. On the subject of unusual cable, anyone else come across 2.5mm 3core and earth? This cable is made by BICC and has a 1mm CPC. Was used for a 3 phase supply to a fan motor for a hot air heating system.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I'm sure I have seen black sheathed twin in the past. Never thought much about it at the time though, and it was some time ago. Maybe I didn't though, dunno!! I have a feeling it was slightly like a number eight in shape when viewed in cross section. But with the pinched middle section more angular and squared in shape
I have around 20 rubble bags of scrap to weigh in, and will have a little scan through it before doing so.

 

[Andy78]

I have a load of that cloth covered poly butyl jute cable somewhere in a few sizes.

This stuff ? Seen heaps of the singles in conduit and/or wrapped in SA tape, but only seen this once.

 

[mattg4321]

I've never seen this stuff for real. If anyone can liberate some for the museum it would be much appreciated!

Sorry for the late reply! If we get the job of rewiring I'll save some for you.

 

[7029 dave]

delete

 

[7029 dave]

I have never ever seen trs, with cpc.! I bet that is painted pvc. lol (below 7/029)

 

[freddo]

Loads of TRS had CPCs, all the sizes listed in a 1930s catalogue page I have here could be supplied with or without a CPC.

 

[7029 dave]

Loads of TRS had CPCs, all the sizes listed in a 1930s catalogue page I have here could be supplied with or without a CPC.

Show please.

 

[Andy78]

I agree, I have seen lots of Rubber twin with cpc.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Loads of TRS had CPCs, all the sizes listed in a 1930s catalogue page I have here could be supplied with or without a CPC.

My house was built in 1965...TRS throughout, cpc in socket and cooker cables, no cpc in lighting