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Cable Type?

Farmboy
I came across an old cable yesterday (apparently installed decades ago), supplying communal lighting (5 * 16W 2D's) in a block of flats, and haven't been able to determine what it is, so any ideas please.


It's circular, white sheathed, has 3 solid (1mm2) cores (red, black and un-insulated annealed copper), and has what appears to be cotton strands running the length of the cable inbetween the cores (took a picture but mob then died without saving it, and I can't get back in the building yet to take another). Cable is concealed in lathe and plaster walls, with only short bits of sheathing protruding/showing (same at rear entry to the CU), so can't determine the manufacturer's name on the sheathing. Wondered if it's some sort of old fire rated cable. Spent a couple of hours on the blower this morning, describing it to Prysmian, Eland, etc, but nobody has a clue what is is.


Any help appreciated.


F
  • 0
    Is the white sheath plastic, rubber, or metallic ?


    String or nowadays kevlar packing is sometimes added for strength in drawing, such cables may be used with  a longer unsupported span and may be lowered down well shafts and similar.

    In older cables it was added more often, because plastic was relatively expensive compared to filler, and they were already in the habit of doing it for rubber flex on things like vacuum cleaners.

  • 0

    mapj1:

    Is the white sheath plastic, rubber, or metallic ?


    String or nowadays kevlar packing is sometimes added for strength in drawing, such cables may be used with  a longer unsupported span and may be lowered down well shafts and similar.

    In older cables it was added more often, because plastic was relatively expensive compared to filler, and they were already in the habit of doing it for rubber flex on things like vacuum cleaners.

     




    The sheathing looks and feels like PVC. The job is to replace the 2D fittings with motion activated (microwave controlled) LED fittings in the hallway and landings, but wondered if I should leave it without knowing what the cable is.


    F

  • 0
    "String like" and "old fire resistant"  are worrying. Asbestos strands used to be woven into cotton like material to provide heat sheathing to conductors in heaters and ovens. It could be just straining cords as Mike said, but are you sure it wasn't wrapped around the conductor for protection against heat?


    regards
  • 0
    There was a simplified non fire resistant version of FP200 which used PVC and was called, I think, PX wiring cable. I also have a distant memory that it was used for the temporary installations at the NEC. Does your cable have aluminium foil under the sheath?

    Best Regards

    Roger
  • 0
    This perhaps?

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5mm-2-Core-Earth-FP200-Fire-Alarm-Cable-OLD-CORE-COLOURS-Red-Black-Per-MTR-/263066536682


    Z.
  • 0

    Zoomup:

    This perhaps?

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5mm-2-Core-Earth-FP200-Fire-Alarm-Cable-OLD-CORE-COLOURS-Red-Black-Per-MTR-/263066536682


    Z.




    I think you've cracked it Z. Imagine seeing a cross section of it, with a few grubby looking tufts of the braiding (but unbraided) protruding out from the sheathing, while surrounding all three conductors, and that looks it to a T.


    Oddly though, the cable you link to is called an OLD fp200, yet prysmiam were the first I called, and they said they've never made anything that even seemed similar (mind you, she sounded young, so could've been before her time).


    Anyhow, thanks all for the replies.


    F

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