I've got an electrician in fitting a pair of PIR security lights on the back of my house - thought I'd get a pro rather than DIY so work would be correctly certificated... I noticed this eve that the cable being used outside is Tower 3183Y 1.0mm H05VV-F in white... http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-3183y-1-5mm-3-core-round-flex-50m/88820 I'm no sparky (I'm a mechanical engineer so view electrickery as witchcraft!) and setting aside the asthetic uglyness of the white cable, I thought that PVC sheathed cable shouldn't be used permanently outdoors due to UV degradation and water ingress issues... Any views from the wise on here? Should he be using something like H05RN-F instead: http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-3-core-reel-flexible-cable-black-1-5mm-x-50m/76797 or something else... Screwfix product descriptions don't mention internal / external use, so tell me if I'm over worrying - quick response appreciated as he's back tommorrow (Sat) afternoon! thanks in advance, T.
About 8 metres across the back and corner of the house, as both lights are being wired from same connection.
Over that distance i'd be using Hi-Tuff. Wiska box or similar near to the lamp with a short length of black flex from box to lamp.
I reckon its a bit of a rough job using ordinarry flex, also a bit of an eyesore, as sen says rubber might be better. I would not use eitgher, I have used something like this in the past & its also stiffer & looks neater http://www.screwfix.com/p/2-x-1-5mm-100m-lsxh-cable-pack-white/64496
Hi Wally, It can be a bit tricky to decide the best way to do some of these jobs, on a fairly short run I have no issues about using round black pvc flex although I do prefer Hi-Tuff. Problem is that Hi-uff won't fit in to most of the domestic type outside lights whether Halogen floodlights or the carriage lamp type of thing so it means fitting a Wiska box or similar next to the lamp and then a short length of black flex from box to lamp.
Unless the aero load forcing drives a 2nd torsion resonance mode - disasterous! thanks everyone else for your speedy help!
Are the cables south facing??? if so then I'd recommend using some conduit for the cable. People rattle on about UV degregation blah blah blah. I've had outside lightings runnning on 1.0mm for 12 years (N/W facing) with no problems.
Hi mate Some sparks will think about the aesthetics of what they are doing, others just do the job as cheaply as they can. I have found that black flex always looks best on brickwork. For a better job black conduit. It would be unfair to challenge your spark on this point. You should have told him that you wanted no white lex on the bricks before he started. At least flex is the better choice over grey T&E. Maybe you could ask him to change the flex to black but accept he can charge you for doing this as he's already installed white. Its all about how you handle it and how he responds. Just don't expect him to do it for nowt. Regards
hmm what is wrong with using some H07RN-F? That's what I've used. The stuff I brought from clas ohlson has EPDM insulation and is apprently UV resistent and outdoor rated.
This is what ya want, looks mint on white walls! http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-arctic-3-core-reel-flexible-cable-yellow-1-5mm-x-100m/92491
Thanks all for your responses; it was redone yesterday with black rubber sheathed H05RR-F - asthetically better (at odds with what some of you were suggesting, my preference was to minimise against the brieckwork rather than make it a coloured feature!), and more importantly more fit for the outdoors duty. Cheers, T.