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Cable size

NGUACE
Hi all,


I am extending the lighting in my garden with no way of identifying the swa cable size? I have purchased some vernier callipers, measured the individual core to be 0.48, as there are 7 cores I work out the csa of the cable to be 1.26mm2.


Unfortunately depending on what table I look at, SWG, AWG, of which each seems to have a number of contradictory ones, I cannot confirm if it is 1mm2 or 1.5mm2.


the issue is I have spent days trying to find someone who stocks 1mm2 SWA, I assume due to cost no one uses it any longer as just  as cheap to get 1.5mm2.


re wiring with 1.5mm2 back from the rcd is not really an option, the cable is buried under concrete and having to re wire would mean drilling through the house and re laying a new cable?


so guess the short question is, anyone know of anyone selling 1mm2 SWA?


thank you all for your time and assistance.


Andy
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    You can't do any harm (apart from expense) of using a larger cable size than required. So from that viewpoint, using 1.5mm² to extend a smaller cable is fine. The chances are the original cable is 1.5 too and you're just seeing a measuring noise. Unless the cable is an old Imperial one.


    However if extending a circuit, you need to consider whether the earth fault loop impedance is still in spec, and what the voltage drop will be. If you don't know what these are, nor have the equipment to measure them, then you should really get in a sparky.
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  • 0
    You can't do any harm (apart from expense) of using a larger cable size than required. So from that viewpoint, using 1.5mm² to extend a smaller cable is fine. The chances are the original cable is 1.5 too and you're just seeing a measuring noise. Unless the cable is an old Imperial one.


    However if extending a circuit, you need to consider whether the earth fault loop impedance is still in spec, and what the voltage drop will be. If you don't know what these are, nor have the equipment to measure them, then you should really get in a sparky.
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