SWA Thinner than expected.

[Hundleton1]

Got a job where the customer has ordered 35m of 10mm 2 core SWA, went to day to install and was taken back in how thin the cores seemed, double checked his paperwork and he ordered 10mm.

He got it from eBay from a electrical seller, (trade seller)

Any one come across particularly thin cables recently?

Popping back in the morning with take the info from the cable

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Formed (sector) conductors appear smaller than circular ones that might be more familiar in appearance, because there's less airspace between the strands. It's very difficult to measure the CSA because the strands aren't circular, although if you can cut a chunk off you can weigh them. Does the cable marking claim it to be 10mm?

 

[itselectric]

I've had this in the past with 300mm and 400mm singles. The crimp lug for the 300 mm just about fitted the 400mm cable and the 400 mm crimp was not tight enough for 400mm cable.
When checked with the manufacturer his reply was the same as yours Lucien

 

[markc123]

Got a job where the customer has ordered 35m of 10mm 2 core SWA, went to day to install and was taken back in how thin the cores seemed, double checked his paperwork and he ordered 10mm.

He got it from eBay from a electrical seller, (trade seller)

Any one come across particularly thin cables recently?

Popping back in the morning with take the info from the cable

The word in 'bold' can be a saviour or a sinner - i personally wouldn't buy cable off ebay, tools yeah but not cable - too much knocked off shyte flying around at the moment - i even had a dvd from a program called 'fake britain' sent to me from the ECA about thieves making a massive mark up on cheap and dangerous cable. Maybe its not legit?

However, i've noticed that some SWA from the local wholesaler doesn't seem to want to spread around the correct sized gland (strands im talking here) become very loose and shoody - so maybe the manufactures are cocking up in making the cables.

Best bet is what you've said, take it somewhere tommorow and get to the bottom of this mind boggling conundrum.

(i realise, it wasn't mind-boggling or even a conundrum - it just felt kinda right typing it)

 

[Tiny Spark]

Ive sometimes noticed a difference between new and old cable because of the insulation type.

 

[Guitarist]

I installed a length of Prysmian swa last year, and took a bag of cleats I'd had leftover from an installation of the same size several years ago. You've guessed it, the cleats were too large for the new "slimline" cable.
As with everything else, materials are being reduced to the minimum to conform with standards.

 

[Marvo]

Measure the resistance of all 35 meters and compare with known values or do a voltdrop calculation and compare with reference tables.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Resistance is a pretty good method but the total of both conductors in series would be about 0.13 ohms, so using a 2-lead test connection and a meter that reads to 0.01 ohm resolution would likely allow an error of 10% or more which could be the difference between a proper cable and a substandard one. To get rock-solid results you would really want to use a 4-lead tester / Ducter that goes down to 0.001 ohms.

 

[guest119]

Does it say electric cable on it or electric kabel?

 

[Flanders]

Make sure it as A BS number on it , most SWA's do have the size detailed on the cable

 

[trev]

Customer supplies cable
Customer buys cable from a place well known for fake knock off cack.
Anyone else seeing a 2 stage cock up here?

 

[Flanders]

That's whys i suggested looking for a BS number

 

[trev]

The thing is though Ned sometimes the forgeroonies put the BdiddlyS numbereeno on the cable they fake.

 

[Flanders]

The sneaky F%$%^ers I Never like it when the customers supply the materials anyway as you've mentioned trev this could turn into a mess

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, I wouldn't take the fact it's got a BS number or symbol on it as gospel fact it isn't a fake. I still think impedance testing it would be as good as any other way.

 

[Flanders]

Testing would give you a good idea on the size of the cable but what about the integrity of the PVC ? I would not trust this cable now what your telling me about the fake BS numbers

 

[trev]

Ask the client where the seller was based. just out of interest.

 

[LeckyBill]

We are talking about garden / outdoor cable right?

 

[Flanders]

Its probable from itsmadeupistan

 

[davethsparky]

Ask the guy to contact the seller and find out who made the cable, armed with this information contact basec and see what they have to say about it.