Live incomer is earth cable wrapped in brown tape?

[Mindgirl]

Any practical solutions that don’t involve cutting new holes to run a new cable ?

 

[Rockingit]

Any practical solutions that don’t involve cutting new holes to run a new cable ?

Without actually seeing it ‘for real’ it’s hard to say but I’ve a suspicion that you may be on a loser with this one. Even if hypothetically each cable was totally unsupported/fixed and could be used as a draw for a replacement, the replacement will be physically larger so I’d wager a reasonable round of drinks that you’d never get the new through the old holes.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

If I understand correctly, these existing runs of 6491X are not in conduit or trunking, so the colour and size are immaterial, they are not suitable. Any replacement is going to be sheathed and therefore larger. Is there in fact a switchfuse at the origin protecting them? You describe them as meter tails (i.e. not a protected distribution circuit) but they are over 20m long.

If they were in conduit, and protected against overcurrent by a switchfuse at the intake, then we are back to the questions of size and colour. Does the situation satisfy Ib<In<Iz? And, are the cables taped in the correct colours over their entire length? Because 514.4.2 refers to a conductor coloured G/Y throughout its length, which is not permitted to be oversleeved at the terminations. But a cable completely covered in brown tape isn't a cable coloured G/Y throughout its length, it's a brown cable, and it's not oversleeved at its terminations. But then again, is that colour coding durable enough - the tape might start peeling off - as it's not part of the official make-up of the cable to the BS. The regs don't actually define this situation, IMO. I wouldn't accept it,

 

[westward10]

By the time you wrap 20m, maybe 40m if the blue is the same you may as well drive 100 miles to get the correct materials

 

[Dustydazzler]

Wrapping GY in tape is rough as old badgers

Like plumbers who use wrap the cpc in twin&earth with red tape and use it as a Live

All rough house

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Of course it's rough and I wouldn't tolerate it, but I don't think that's a fair comparison. G/Y 6491X is insulated to the same standard as brown, it's just the colour that's wrong which arguably could be fixed by 'changing' the colour. The CPC in T&E is not insulated and must not be used as a live conductor. My concern is that the tape, as a colour code, is not durable enough and could detach leaving the incorrect colour exposed, and there might be confusion if it were deliberately stripped separately from the original insulation.

 

[Rockingit]

Of course it's rough and I wouldn't tolerate it, but I don't think that's a fair comparison. G/Y 6491X is insulated to the same standard as brown, it's just the colour that's wrong which arguably could be fixed by 'changing' the colour. The CPC in T&E is not insulated and must not be used as a live conductor. My concern is that the tape, as a colour code, is not durable enough and could detach leaving the incorrect colour exposed, and there might be confusion if it were deliberately stripped separately from the original insulation.

I've wondered this, before now. When is a colour not a colour, etc. I've done it the other way around before, on an external gas bond where 20-30m of GY would have looked awful, so instead used brown which blended in and oversleeved G/Y at each end - NICEIC technical had no issues with it as I thought I should double check first (although I fully expect it confused the next gas fitter!)

 

[suffolkspark]

Have no idea how I would run new meter tails if they don’t want any disruption to building fabric!

Remember were not magicians. If it really is singles all the way not in containment it needs renewing, however that may be.

 

[Julie.]

Any practical solutions that don’t involve cutting new holes to run a new cable ?

I doubt it.

If it is coming through plasterboard walls, and under the floor; it might just be possible to pull an armoured through as three seperate cables twisted around (as they tend to be) does take up more space than a single piece.

But it only needs to be fixed or somehow jammed once along its length and then you're stuffed!

Is there a different route possible?

 

[pc1966]

I've wondered this, before now. When is a colour not a colour, etc. I've done it the other way around before, on an external gas bond where 20-30m of GY would have looked awful, so instead used brown which blended in and oversleeved G/Y at each end - NICEIC technical had no issues with it as I thought I should double check first (although I fully expect it confused the next gas fitter!)

I'm pretty sure that is fine.

The real issue with repurposing a G/Y cable is that someone thinks it is intrinsically safe at some point along the length, or it gets accidentally swapped, and so cut or attached to metalwork making for a serious risk of injury or death.