Interesting cable system

[grumpyjohn01]

Did some work on a sheltered housing style flat from the 80's today. It was wired in a type of 'cable' I don't think I've seen before, comprising a flat flexible thick rubber 'conduit' with 3 separate tunnels each containing a PVC single core of very high quality, the sizes of the conductors seemed a tad larger than standard metric (though I might have imagined that! ). Same size CPC's as Lives. In really good condition for its age, bit of a challenge to entry into a amd 3 style board though ! Anybody recognise this system? just out of curiosity ....

 

[drzsta]

I've seen it before in '60s tower blocks. it's a hard black pvc flat sheath with insulated line conductors and bare enclosed cpc. I think the idea was that you could pull through the live conductors to rewire.

 

[westward10]

Sounds like Octoflex a modular system which never really took off. It never really allowed for modification/alteration and any attempt at rewiring through it will need a huge amount of luck.

 

[stevethesparks]

I see it as an apprentice in London during the early 70's, our brand was called "cable-con". It was supposed to be re-wireable, and the firm I worked for used in in a small block of flats off of Russell Square.

If installed with slow bends, it could just about be rewired, but a lot of the time this wasn't possible, and in the winter it needed warming otherwise it cracked when bent.

It was an attempt an pre-wired re-wireable cable system that didn't work, but was utilised as a cheaper alternative by some electrical firms. I pity anyone trying to re-wire such a system.

 

[freddo]

Interesting, anyone have any photos of the stuff?

 

[Toneyz]

i remember it being avertised in P.E.magazine about 10 maybe more years ago it was different colours for cable sizes.