Running flex from metal wiring box?

Question

I've ordered a metalclad FCU box from Toolstation, in order to hard-wire in a wall-mounted heater for my workshop (for anybody who looked at that post, I went for a fan-heater in the end!).

This is the one I bought

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(or

- this will connects via 20mm PVC conduit to the workshop wiring.

Just went to wire it up today and realised the deliberate mistake - the faceplate I've bought doesn't include a flex outlet. Bollocks (I got wrong-footed while ordering it, because Toolstation don't actually carry such an item in their metalclad range and I picked the wrong item when scrolling down the screen).

So I'm just wondering - is there a way I can run a flex out of the side or bottom of this box safely and legally? I do have some grommet like this:

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...but that wouldn't address the strain relief issue, would it.

I know there are suitable FCUs with flex outlets available elsewhere, but would be a bit of a PITA to obtain, and in any case I'd much rather have the flex to the heater emerge from the side of the box, rather then the front...

ARW · Accepted Answer

or 10 for 2.50 in a proper electrical wholesalers. 20mm stuffing/compression gland is the name you need to look for.

Lobster · Answer

Fantastic!  Thanks a lot Adam

rbel · Answer

I cannot help you with the regulatory requirements but I do know that a metal faceplate with cable port is readily available -  I imagine that to go down the d-i-y route you should incorporate a cable clamp within the box in addition to the grommet.

charles · Answer

+0000, Lobster  wrote: you can buy glands with a cable clamp to go into 20mm holes.

ARW · Answer

Is that for use with flex:-)?

ARW · Answer

Make sure that you get the locknut with whatever you buy and do check into the sizes of the flex that the gland is suitable for.

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shows the options available. I only gave the Wickes link as an example of what you need (but I am 99% sure it would be OK).

Tim Watts · Answer

On Sunday 10 February 2013 17:48 ARW wrote in uk.d-i-y:

And although you may not see those a lot in a domestic setting, that arrangement is *very* common in datacentres and other industrial settings.

Running flex from metal wiring box?

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