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Minimum/maximum cable sizes in terminations

Baldyhugh

Evening all

In the absence of technical info from manufacturers, how do you determine the minimum and maximum sizes of cables in terminations. Probably more the minimum size actually. Take a standard socket outlet or spur, could have as small as 1.5mm t&e with a 1mm earth. I find in this case especially that the 1mm struggles to get firmly held with the screw, more so the square type nowadays, the older round tunnel type were better. Is everyone saying if it passes a pull test, it’s acceptable?

Peter

  • 0 in reply to Baldyhugh
    Baldyhugh said:
    This is where in the absence of technical data,technical judgement comes in

    Is the technical data actually absent? I've not scoured the internet or enquired myself, but the short-form "data sheet" isn't really a full specification, is it?

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    That’s the jist of my point. You will soon be able to determine if a cable is too large for a terminal as it won’t fit in, but a smaller one will obviously fit in the terminal, however the important thing is whether it will be clamped securely. This is where in the absence of technical data,technical judgement comes in.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1
    mapj1 said:
    Are the lever clamp ones for portable socket outlets - i.e. extension lead use, or do we interpret that flex size requirement  to also include sockets for fixed (to me "non-portable") wiring ?

    Not associated according to the standard.

  • 0 in reply to RB1981

    Are the lever clamp ones for portable socket outlets - i.e. extension lead use, or do we interpret that flex size requirement  to also include sockets for fixed (to me "non-portable") wiring ?

    Mike

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson
    Chris Pearson said:
    the technical specs are online, I cannot find them.

    The one's I've seen just say "capacity" (which means they can hold less ... just doesn't tell us how much less).

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    The adverts seem to show smaller tunnels for the CPC, but in any event 2.5 mm² and 4 mm² T&E both have a 1.5 mm CPC. If the technical specs are online, I cannot find them. I wonder whether they could handle a full-sized CPC if wired in singles?

  • 0 in reply to Baldyhugh
    Baldyhugh said:
    If not then 2.5mm2 t&e won’t comply due to 1.5mm2 cpc

    I think the cpc would have to comply with the requirements for cpc terminals, and the manufacturer is talking about csa in terms the live conductors of a UK  2.5 sq mm installation cable (6242Y) which has a reduced cpc (because we usually call this 2.5 T&E in the industry).

    I would ask the manufacturer.

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    The MK rapid fix sockets states that it accepts 2.5mm2 and 4mm2. I presume that they are talking about t&e, again they are not specific enough. Just says ‘accepts 2.5mm2 and 4mm2’. If not then 2.5mm2 t&e won’t comply due to 1.5mm2 cpc.

  • 0 in reply to RB1981
    RB1981 said:
    Do the socket-outlets made by MK with Wago-type lever terminals fail to comply with BS 1363? After all the terminals are not of screw-type. (Unfortunately I don't have a copy of BS 1363 to check.)

    BS 1363-2 covers screwless terminals as well. In this case, the same Clause applies to screwless terminals. There are (understandably) certain provsions in the standard that are unique to screwless terminals and some unique to screw terminals (for example, tightening torque requirements for screw terminals make no sense for screwless terminals).

    I couldn't make the same statement about "doubling up" with screwless terminals, though !

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    Do the socket-outlets made by MK with Wago-type lever terminals fail to comply with BS 1363? After all the terminals are not of screw-type. (Unfortunately I don't have a copy of BS 1363 to check.)

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