Armoured Cable

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Armoured Cable
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dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 05 12:35 pm Post subject:

Its quite easy to extend wireless range for a fixed link.
https://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-outdoorantenna-24-yagi-14yn.htm

As regards the rating of the power circuit, I'd suggest that *one* 13 amp socket's worth would be plenty useful.
You can easily find small low wattage ("travel"?) kettles, that wouldn't hog the entire output of the line.
A single socket can easily support most power tools and some lighting.

But with the other costs (not least the excavation) as well as the cable itself, and depending on what you want to use *simultaneously*, it may stack up for you that the extra capacity could be very useful and not make too much impact on the overall cost...

You pays *your* money, and you takes your choice!

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 05 1:50 pm Post subject:
Remember if you lay a pipe that long, to at least put a 'rope / string' through it to pull cables through. Unless you have a well trained ferret.

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 05 8:12 pm Post subject:

Any electricians out there who can confirm the below maths for me, as I am getting mixed messages?

I want a 20 amp supply, 175 meters from the house. The Volt drop per metre of 16mm is 2.4.

So total volt drop will be (length x amps x volt drop per m)/1000

So in my case (175 x 20 x 2.4)/1000 = 8.4 volts. This expressed as a % of mains (assuming 230v) is 3.65%.

I believe the limit according to the regs is 4%.

According to one manufacturer, they were saying I needed 25mm cable, and that blows the budget to the extent that we won't do it.

Help!

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28233
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 05 8:33 pm Post subject:
If its not a daft question, are not the economics of this such that a small generator would be massively easier and more cost effective anyway?

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 05 8:39 pm Post subject:

jema wrote:

If its not a daft question, are not the economics of this such that a small generator would be massively easier and more cost effective anyway?

I have thought about this as well. One of the things that we will need to power will be heat lamps for piglets, and using a generator would become a right royal pain in the **** after a while. Also as we are having the ditches dug for water, it makes sense to chuck electric in as well. The difference between 16mm and 25mm is around �400, and I'm just not convinced that the calc I was given is right.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 05 9:42 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Would it be possible to lay a pipe that the cable could be routed through at a later stage?

I would always put a ducting in for electrics & other wires, then you could save on not having to have amoured cable & be flexible to replace it at a later date if necessary. If you also make sure you leave a draw rope in when the cable is in place then you'll easily be able to add additional wires/cables too.

Second hand cable may also be an option? We got some big stuff through ebay a lot cheaper than it would retail new & it was as good as.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 6:02 am Post subject:
Thanks Rob, that was my thoughts exactly. There's also the possibility of running a second cable if you require one at a later date.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 8:44 am Post subject:
We paid the electricity board �1300 quid to run a 185 cable 50m, that cable is about 2 inches thick and totally minimised the volt drop as we were 150m away from the transformer already. If you are going to lay the cable yourself you need to dust over the top of it and put a caution tape down too so that anyone who digs up afterwards will hit the tape and be warned before hitting the cable.

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 8:58 am Post subject:

Quote:

Second hand cable may also be an option? We got some big stuff through ebay a lot cheaper than it would retail new & it was as good as.

We've looked on Ebay for cable, but I think the chances of finding 175m are slim.

Whilst the cost of the cable is related to it being armoured, I'll still need a thick cable to minimise volt drop. I think it highly unlikely that I would be able to pull a minimum of 16mm cable down any ducting, given the layout of the land, with corners and ditches.[/quote]

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 11:08 am Post subject:
Now I have another thought! Do I run twin core and use the sheath for earth or do I run three core and use one of the cores for earth? I think twin core�..but not 100% sure. Things are never simple!

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 11:28 am Post subject:

High Green Farm wrote:

I think it highly unlikely that I would be able to pull a minimum of 16mm cable down any ducting, given the layout of the land, with corners and ditches.

The guys installing ours used a winch cable connected to the end and just peeled it off a drum, it took less than five minutes

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 11:39 am Post subject:

High Green Farm wrote:

Now I have another thought! Do I run twin core and use the sheath for earth or do I run three core and use one of the cores for earth? I think twin core�..but not 100% sure.

Take expert advice!

My 2p worth:
If your system earths through a "spike" on your property then I can't see the harm in using the shield as the earth conductor, and tying it into that earthing system.
However, that could be a bad idea if your earthing is done at the local sub-station.
https://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/earthing_arrangements.html
Running cable with a dedicated earth conductor couldn't be wrong... its just a matter of whether its required! (Have you got access to "The Regs"?)

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 11:49 am Post subject:
Having seen my earth spike put in there ain't much to them either.

High Green Farm

Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 349
Location: Mid-Suffolk

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 11:56 am Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Agreed....need to find good local electrician to do this.

We have a PME, so as you say, I can't go wrong by chucking in 3 core!

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Fri Oct 21, 05 7:59 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Having seen my earth spike put in there ain't much to them either.

Two quid from Screwfix

As for ducting it can go under ditches, round corners (provided they aren't too sharp) & with the right duct, the cable will go through OK, as JB says, if its too big to pull by hand just winch it through. It's a lot easier (and cheaper) than digging it up again- you'll never regret putting a ducting down but you can often regret not putitng one in.

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