Garden conduit sizing advice

[eyecatcher]

I want to run all my old existing lighting cables in conduits on top of my new wall and cant decide on whether one is sufficient or two smaller ones.

 

4 cables, 

1no 2*2.5mm power to socket

1no 2*1.5mm two way lighting cable

2no 2*1.5mm lighting runs

 

No bends envisaged.

Cables previously ran along the old fence and are sheathed.

 

[Dumbastheycome]

Whatever you do , do it  quick ! That looks lethal !

[Artisi]

44 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Whatever you do , do it  quick ! That looks lethal !

What, no earth with the power cable? 

[eyecatcher]

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

What, no earth with the power cable? 

Silly question....of course not????

[eyecatcher]

2 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Whatever you do , do it  quick ! That looks lethal !

Which bit exactly? Its been there 5yr to my knowledge

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

I want to run all my old existing lighting cables in conduits on top of my new wall and cant decide on whether one is sufficient or two smaller ones.

 

4 cables, 

1no 2*2.5mm power to socket

1no 2*1.5mm two way lighting cable

2no 2*1.5mm lighting runs

 

No bends envisaged.

Cables previously ran along the old fence and are sheathed.

2 conduits are best, however having indoor boxes, or in wall boxes, outside specially with knockouts in the side open without cable glands is a bad idea, even worse is having it reversed and you have provided a great way to fill the yellow pipe with water.

 

this is better 

[eyecatcher]

Well lets not get too dramatic guys, its a simple spur to a socket.

Yes theres probably millions of metres of cable running in a non compliant manner all over the country, its far from ideal but you have got more chance of being injured whilst driving to a supplier of the cable.

Mine is actually terminated in rated socket inside a weatherproof box.

The socket is maybe used twice a year.....

Now compare that with what we all prefer........yes, the 25m trailing socket with a 2 pin at one end. So how is my waterproof box socket running as a spur any less safe than an extension lead which is just laying on the floor, being dragged over the tarmac and walked over by all and sundry either at home or on a building site

[eyecatcher]

7 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

2 conduits are best, however having indoor boxes, or in wall boxes, outside specially with knockouts in the side open without cable glands is a bad idea, even worse is having it reversed and you have provided a great way to fill the yellow pipe with water.

 

this is better 

Yes, the set up shown has not been touched, it was previously fixed to the back of some tree frnce posts.

It was also full of water as you rightly suggest.

 

[grollies]

3 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

I want to run all my old existing lighting cables in conduits on top of my new wall

Why? Looks fine to me.

[Dumbastheycome]

1 hour ago, eyecatcher said:

Which bit exactly? Its been there 5yr to my knowledge

Other than unsecured cable and no visible earth if that junction box is open to the weather it could easily be  alive alive o  when it rains. Just  an observation.

[eyecatcher]

48 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Other than unsecured cable and no visible earth if that junction box is open to the weather it could easily be  alive alive o  when it rains. Just  an observation.

Dont panic Mr Mainwaring, as i mentioned above its been there 5years and it wasnt really secured before on a termite eaten fence.

 

Anyway, I have disconnected it for now as i attempt to re assemble it

[Dumbastheycome]

Just now, eyecatcher said:

Dont panic Mr Mainwaring, as i mentioned above its been there 5years and it wasnt really secured before on a termite eaten fence.

 

Anyway, I have disconnected it for now as i attempt to re assemble it

lol. 

[Crossy]

10 minutes ago, eyecatcher said:

Anyway, I have disconnected it for now as i attempt to re assemble it

 

Remind you of anything?

 

 

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, grollies said:

Why? Looks fine to me.

Yep, top end of Thai specification. 

[grollies]

50 minutes ago, eyecatcher said:

Dont panic Mr Mainwaring, as i mentioned above its been there 5years and it wasnt really secured before on a termite eaten fence.

 

Anyway, I have disconnected it for now as i attempt to re assemble it

Impressive

[eyecatcher]

interestingly, despite the possibility of rain accessing the junction box, each of those wires were wrapped with a 400mm length of insulation tape.

Three different lighting circuits here, hence all the cables running off to the right.

I wouldnt normally wrap wires more than 6 times or 100mm of tape, seems a waste.

[Crossy]

Did anyone actually suggest a conduit size?

 

To get that many sheathed cables in I think you're looking at a 1" conduit, with proper end pieces into the boxes (look in the plumbing section for something suitable).

 

Do be careful with that PVC, after a while in the sun it may have gone brittle. It could be better to run fresh cable (singles if you can make everything water tight).

 

[eyecatcher]

The reason I posted was to see if any bright spark could help as i was confused finding the cross sectional area of sheathed wires vis a vis a 40% min free area inside a conduit.

 

As there are only 4 cacles I am settled at running 2 half inch conduits.

 

I have a 1" on another wall carrying the mains and an empty half inch for one light cable.

 

What has happened, those conduits have shrunk about 10mm and a couple have actually pulled from a connecting sleeve.

Boxes are fine, they are sleeved properly.

Just been bored for three days waiting for those shops to reopen so i can get to it.

[eyecatcher]

Finally managed to get the cables in some semblence.

After fannying about literally trial and error with a two way switching arrangement and an extra switch for the lights i have eliminated them completely.

Of the 9no 200bt lights, 3 didnt work but as usual you start checking all the wiring and the bulbs before you strip the lights down.

After removing the bayonet rose, all three had a terminal that wasnt even under the screw. Easily fixed but for 200bt they will last 4yrs outside.