Sub main cable type

[NDG Elecs]

Hello Good Folks!
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I am a humble domestic spark that is not the most experienced (although not a Electrical Trainee!). I tend to do board changes and smaller stuff. An existing customer has asked me to rewire a couple of flats, one of the flats already has a new sub main ran in by the builder. The cable looks to be YY type, NOT armoured, is defo 16mm 3 core, but looks to have no mechanical protection and is prob <50mm from wall surface. The runs are around 8m for each flat.

YY cable is listed as a control cable rather than a power cable, so if this cable is indeed YY then is it suited as a sub main cable?* There is writing on the cable but I could not get through to investigate due to room full of carp. I will do so in due course.
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16mm YY cable is good for a max of 82A (these are one bed flats with kitchen/lounge as one room (so demand won’t be heavy)). DNO should be happy with 16mm I would assume if 60A supply requested. There is a separate 16mm earth also ran in.

So my question is *would a 100mA RCD up front provide sufficient protection or should the YY be replaced with SWA. No intake is present as of yet as being installed soonish I believe.

For the other flat I was going to run in 16mm 3 core SWA with a KMF up front. I am going to ring NAPIT technical on Monday but I know for sure they will probably say don’t put a 100mA up front despite the fact that there will be two 30mA at board.
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Thoughts welcome please (even OJL!!)

Thanking You!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Whats the earthing system?

 

[NDG Elecs]

No intake present yet mate. I would hope PME when it is installed.

 

[ipf]

Whats the earthing system?

I'd insist on 16mm swa at least, no matter what, especially with builders around the place.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

As ipf

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If you're putting your name on it.

 

[ipf]

Make it 3 core, too.................pretty sure it's cheaper than 2 core.

 

[Amp David]

As other say really and you'll struggle terminating a SWA into a KMF switch too

 

[shanky887614]

As other say really and you'll struggle terminating a SWA into a KMF switch too

Use 3core, then shroud and stuffer if not a lot of space.

Or better idea terminate into either a trunking header/adaptable box/isolator etc

 

[Octopus]

Rip out what the "builder" has installed and start again. WTF.

 

[shanky887614]

Rip out what the "builder" has installed and start again. WTF.

id issue a danger notice and leave personally.

YY is not designed to be enclosed in a wall so inform building inspecter if your feeling cruel

 

[NDG Elecs]

Thanks for responses.

Consensus is replace the cable. So that's what I will quote for. Wasn't that happy when I saw what was installed anyway. Yeah, from the tech spec I saw the YY didn't sound the ideal choice! Although it may not be YY. But it is definately unarmoured.

And thanks for the heads up re the kmf and swa; always good to know.

Thanks again.

 

[guest119]

id issue a danger notice and leave personally.

YY is not designed to be enclosed in a wall so inform building inspecter if your feeling cruel

Why would you issue a danger notice for a buried cable that is not live? Not live because the op has more sense.

Boydy

 

[Megavolt]

id issue a danger notice and leave personally.

YY is not designed to be enclosed in a wall so inform building inspecter if your feeling cruel

Danger notice for what. There's not even a intake

 

[Silly Sausage]

I bet the braid wasn't earthed!
Plus incorrect glands.

 

[shanky887614]

I bet the braid wasn't earthed!
Plus incorrect glands.

Thats sy not yy. Yy is bassically flex

 

[Silly Sausage]

Thats sy not yy. Yy is bassically flex

Balls! Damn this cider!

 

[Dcf]

The last 2 big shop fits I've noticed have been all yy.
as above I thought wtf is that .
seems to be the cable of choice on commercial for some reason that escapes my humble opinion.
i agree it's an control cable.

 

[NDG Elecs]

The last 2 big shop fits I've noticed have been all yy.
as above I thought wtf is that .
seems to be the cable of choice on commercial for some reason that escapes my humble opinion.
i agree it's an control cable.

I suppose if it's suitably contained it is no different to T&E being used. It will obviously be easier to dress than SWA. When I googled YY it does seem to be getting used a bit in risers.

I should have took a piccy of the cross section of the cable, it is insulated and then has the fattest sheath I have seen on a cable.

 

[Engineer54]

You sure it was control wiring YY cable?? generally the cores would be black with printed core numbers in white. Probably just standard flexible harmonised colour cable!!

One things for sure, if i ever saw a Subby wiring one of our concessionary area shops in any form of flexible extention type cord cabling, he'd be thrown off the project head first, followed swiftly by his crap cable!!

 

[NDG Elecs]

You sure it was control wiring YY cable?? generally the cores would be black with printed core numbers in white. Probably just standard flexible harmonised colour cable!!

No not 100%. It had harmonised insulation. From what I gathered YY cable has numbered cores or harmonised colours instead. The sheath must have been 6mm thick at it's thinnest part. Sheath was light grey and spending an hour googling earlier led me to the YY. Strands on the conductors were very fine which made the csa look tiny.

I am gonna go back and have another butchers.....bet it is just flex afterall!