Does anybody know what the special wire used for internal connections in consumer units is called? It is about 6mm diameter and multi-stranded. Each strand appears to be only about 0.25mm thick - possibly even less. What is it used for apart from consumer units?
Tia,
Cic.
Yes, and where do you get it from? I need soem too. My local EW doesn't know.
Regards, Jon.
Do you mean the stuff that they use to seal meters?
Isn't guitar wire the same stuff?
-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
Consumer units usually have busbars connecting the main switch/breaker to the MCB's not wires - what are these wires connecting together in your example?
Sparks...
In my split-load CU, there's what seems to be a 6 or 10mm2 very flexible piece of wire taking the live feed from the main isolator to the RCD - maybe this is what the OP is talking about?
Mogweed.
============= No, it's not that stuff. Maybe I should have described it as 'cable' rather than 'wire'. It's approximately *6mm* diameter.
Cic.
Might be wrong but...is it the straps from the 60Amp fuse Cicero?
-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
High current flexible cable is used in cars, etc. Somewhere like Vehicle Wiring Products should be able to supply small quantities and in the correct colour if you know the spec.
Little chance an electrical wholesaler will have it. Electronics suppliers like RS might - but won't sell a few feet at an economic price.
So have a look at:-
====================== There is a busbar connection for the MCBs (2 actually) but the wire I'm enquiring about is the wire described by 'Mogweed'. My split-load unit has internal connections between the main switch and the RCD but also between the main switch and the neutral solid brass connector.
Cic.
=================== Do you mean 'meter tails' which connect the Boards fuse board to my consumer unit? If so, no it's not those. It's used for connections inside the consumer unit - see my previous post(s).
Cic.
These are supplied with the CU or with the relevant CU accessory. Some manufacturer's (e.g. MK) sell them separately as spares too.
This type of singles insulated cable is called Tri-Rated and avalable in all colours at any good electricial wholesaler. Its also used on streetlighting to earth bond the doors on lighting columns due to it being very flexable.
Jon.
Right lads, problem solved . it is called 'tri-rated' singles sometimes called tri-rated 6491x [wrongly] Can't remember the bs number though but. We use loads of the stuff, I've even got some spare 185mm^2 if any one is short!!!, and the lugs and the tooling. Also got a bit of 16mm^2 blue and brown, but not that much. Also got a shed load of bootlace ferrules.
On a different tack, I have sorted out photobucket, just need to upload the pics now
Bo11ocks, Mr Southerns posting arrived whilst I was typing, sorry if it looks like plagerism
It must be the reading bit that confuses you How are you with pictures?
Fantastic! Now I know what to ask for at the EW. Thanks!
Thats good that, but whats the wire like?
-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
Never mind that - I'm off to try playing my guitar fitted with 6mm strings :-) (see beginning of thread).
Hmmm! you should try... "Each strand appears to be only about 0.25mm" you have better chance getting it through the hole.
-- Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite
Can't you just paint your existing brown/blue ones black/red :-P
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