SWA and garage CU

[Steve D]

Hi All,

I've been asked to have a look at somebodys garage elec installation. SWA has been run from the house underground and instead of terminating it properly it's been wired into an extension cable and the radial circuit and lighting circuits just plug in !!

It looks a right mess.

I plan to put a neat RCD garage CU in there and terminate the SWA properly into it.

I've never really used SWA other than at college, so do you guys recommend a metal CU, or will a plastic garage CU be up to the job ?

I'm just concerned about the plastic not being strong enough.

Cheers
Steve

 

[acat]

A matter of choice really and what the customer wants to pay if you are concered that plastic may not be strong enough make use you use a couple more cable support clips just before the box to take the weight of the cable and stop it moving.

Chris

 

[AMST09]

Much easier using a metal CU
Put it onto the CU then screw it to the wall..much easier
Is the cable buried properly if they have done such a bodge job?

 

[Spudnik]

As above, or, for a few quid, purchase a steel adaptable box, screw that to the wall, terminate the SWA into that and leave the cores long enough to go through the box and out the top, into the bottom of insulated CU and into the terminals.

Or, just buy a metal cu.

DOnt forget to check for services in the garage and RCD protection in the correct places where needed.

 

[sparks1234]

How many cores has the SWA got, in other words are you using the armour as an earth, a seperate earth or is it a 3-core?

 

[Steve D]

Thanks guys.

I wasn't expecting so many replies so quickly !

The burying of the cable seems fine. I'm pretty sure it's 3 core as the armour is really straggly and loose all over the place.

I think I'll probably go down the metal CU route and I'll terminate so that I'm also using the armour as a cpc as well.