split concentric cable

[ExArmy]

was reading an article in PE today about split concentric cable and it got me thinking......

.....why am I not using this more often? it's much easier to work with!

 

[Engineer54]

was reading an article in PE today about split concentric cable and it got me thinking......

.....why am I not using this more often? it's much easier to work with!

Well, for one thing, it's NOT a SWA replacement for direct buried work. It can be a real pig to terminate aesthetically, especially the concentric 3 core. The best means of terminating this type of cable, is with heat shrink cable breakouts.
Not really a lover of the stuff, but i can see useful purposes for it...

 

[Richard Burns]

I have only worked with split con once and I would definitely say that T&E is much easier to work with, and as E54 says, terminate neatly.

 

[Guest55]

.....why am I not using this more often?

because it has absolutely no more mechanical protection properties than t&e.
basically.

 

[sedgy34]

It's good to use as mains in flats from a shrouded kmf

 

[Amp David]

.....why am I not using this more often? it's much easier to work with!

Thought reading the article would of answered 99% of your question TBH

 

[i=p/u]

flats is where i seem to see it being used...

 

[Guest55]

It's good to use as mains in flats from a shrouded kmf

no its not as you still need to rcd it if its concealed in walls , which causes discrimination problems with any rcds in the flat CU's.
its a poor mans substitute for swa and does nothing that T&E cant do.

 

[sedgy34]

You not used much of it then biff?

 

[Guest55]

miles of it.
but in undeground highways supplies , not domestic installs.
dont get me wrong its good stuff to use and easy to work with.
but it has little benefits in a domestic property.

 

[sedgy34]

It's good to use as mains in flats from a shrouded kmf

Tied on tray up a riser cupboard above ceiling in apartment drop down to distribution board in studded wall more than 50mm no rcd required you can only use 16mm t&e on certain cable lengths
so concentric for me

 

[Guest55]

you can only use 16mm t&e on certain cable lengths

?????????????????
what length would that be ?

 

[Engineer54]

I'd like to see any photographs of the terminations of split concentric cable that electricians have made. To be totally honest, i've never seen a perfectly made off cable yet, in fact most i've seen have been a complete pig's ear of a job.

As i stated above, one of the better ways to terminate this cable is via a heat shrink 3 spout breakout and heat shrink tubing. Most if not all that i've seen is by using amalgamating tape (and even PVC tape). Now if your skilled with amalgamating tape, there is no reason why you can't make a decent job of it. I'm sure someone like Tony wouldn't have a problem at all.

 

[Amp David]

So why do people think its easier than SWA?

At least with SWA its will be made of properly at each end.

Why is it not listed in the regs for its specifics?

 

[Guest55]

So why do people think its easier than SWA?

well to be honest , it is.
its lighter than a swa of the same csa , its more flexible , quicker to strip back etc etc.
but it usefulness is limited by the fact it still needs rcd'ing.

as far as i'm aware , concentric cable was developed for use by the dno's for their cut-out tails because its alot cheaper than swa and can be worked on live alot easier than swa.

 

[Engineer54]

as far as i'm aware , concentric cable was developed for use by the dno's for their cut-out tails because its alot cheaper than swa and can be worked on live alot easier than swa.

They also don't need to terminate to the degree that you will in there service cut-out, the earth strands (TN-S) remain bare, just twisted together and semi dressed to connect into the internal terminal block, or heat shrinked where they run external to the MET....

 

[Swicade]

I've never used or had the opportunity to use this type of cable in the last 25 years of being a sparks......tbh i had to just goggle it to realise it was the name of the cable DNO supplies were installed in....constant learning curve this spark's game....if only the crash course's where around back in the day i might've known all about it already.....

 

[sedgy34]

They also don't need to terminate to the degree that you will in there service cut-out, the earth strands (TN-S) remain bare, just twisted together and semi dressed to connect into the internal terminal block, or heat shrinked where they run external to the MET....

If you install a kmf with shrouds you can use tails from mains using a 16mm earth looks alot neater, than having to heat shrink the earths

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve only had the chance to use it on one job and that was after a lot of argument. I didn’t have the heat shrink break out boots so I used adhesive lined tube over the two bundled conductors and also the phase. I then finished off with a larger tube over the crutch. Looked OK but would have preferred the proper boot.

 

[sedgy34]

?????????????????
what length would that be ?

I don't feel the need to get the book out son to give you the answer
i sense alot of immaturity from your question above

 

[Guest55]

I don't feel the need to get the book out son to give you the answer
i sense alot of immaturity from your question above

immature ?
sounded like a reasonable question if youre infering that concentric can be used for longer cable runs than T&E.
son.

 

[ipf]

immature ?
sounded like a reasonable question if youre infering that concentric can be used for longer cable runs than T&E.
son.

Why don't you call each other 'pup' ?

 

[sedgy34]

immature ?
sounded like a reasonable question if youre infering that concentric can be used for longer cable runs than T&E.
son.

You have done this before pal you ask that question and the op comes back with the answer and your sarcastic and patronising to the op with your response as if you find it funny the op has found the correct answer your response is a measly "good for you" or something on those lines.
Getting back to the subject I was referring to using it for mains supply.

 

[peterb]

Hello
I am planning on using this to replace old overhead VIRs feeding an outbuilding. DNOs use a wire preform to suspend the cable at each end when they use SC in OH applications. Anyone got a source of supply for these wire preforms?

Thanks

 

[Knobhead]

Search Aerial Bunched Cables (ABC)

 

[Engineer54]

Hello
I am planning on using this to replace old overhead VIRs feeding an outbuilding. DNOs use a wire preform to suspend the cable at each end when they use SC in OH applications. Anyone got a source of supply for these wire preforms?

Thanks

The DNO don't use Split Concentric Cables on Overhead lines, they use concentric. Show us the terminations you make at both ends when you've finished, i bet they'll look a right mess if you have never used this cable type before!! ..lol!!!

 

[peterb]

The DNO don't use Split Concentric Cables on Overhead lines, they use concentric. Show us the terminations you make at both ends when you've finished, i bet they'll look a right mess if you have never used this cable type before!! ..lol!!!

Termination is simple using a three leg heat shrink boot and taking a little time to get a decent lay on the neutral and earth conductors. Searching bundled didn't produce anything though.

 

[peterb]

..... Oh and DNOs use both cne and scne depending on whether it's pme or not.

 

[Engineer54]

..... Oh and DNOs use both cne and scne depending on whether it's pme or not.

Not from overhead supplies they don't!!

And i did say, if you have never used this type of cable before. Even with 3 leg breakouts and heatshrink, it can still be a bugger in tight spaces to get a good dressing....

 

[durhamspark]

My old college tutor ( a long long time ago) said that it was good for the DNOs cos it stopped people hammering pins into the phase and neutral to tap a supply before the meter.

 

[DPG]

Tied on tray up a riser cupboard above ceiling in apartment drop down to distribution board in studded wall more than 50mm no rcd required you can only use 16mm t&e on certain cable lengths
so concentric for me

Sorry to drag up an old thread but I'm intrigued by this point. What is the reason for being able to use concentric on longer runs than t&e? Daz

 

[telectrix]

larger csa of cpc?

 

[DPG]

Perhaps that what he was thinking Tel. I suspect not though. Daz

 

[shanky887614]

larger csa of cpc?

More flexable than swa

 

[DPG]

Yeah but not more flexible than t and e.

 

[R G]

I have never used concentric outside of the DNO , used it a lot for the DNO ,split and straight , the central core has always been ally solid conductor , I didn't know it was available outside , i just never had to use it outside , on the contracting side we always had to use SWA ,does the concentric available generally available have the same make up with a solid central ally core or what , I must admit that is reason I thought was a cable only for DNO use ,

 

[peterb]

stranded copper central core is available