Electrical cable nightmare

[Lime]

Regulations and risk are two different things, as are superior and adequate performance. :wink:

PVC is used because it is cheap to produce and can survive low-skilled installation and neglect in use.

Exploding MCBs are common as too are failing RCDs.
Couple that with some really appalling and deadly fakes now being circulated throughout the electrical wholesale industy I wouldn't be too sure any new stuff is better either.

 

[Penners]

Regulations and risk are two different things

I vote that the sage observation of the year.

 

[Lime]

Regulations and risk are two different things

I vote that the sage observation of the year.

I vote that the most sage observation of the year.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Regulations and risk are two different things

I vote that the sage observation of the year.

I vote that the most sage observation of the year.

I vote that the sageiest observation on the year.

 

[Flyfisher]

Regulations and risk are two different things, as are superior and adequate performance. :wink:

PVC is used because it is cheap to produce and can survive low-skilled installation and neglect in use.

Pretty important advantages, I'd say. Rubber may be a technically superior insulator to PVC but this is of no real value in domestic applications since PVC is a perfectly adequate insulator (when was the last time you received a shock when touching a PVC-insulated cable?). Like most engineering things, it's all a matter of trading off the many variables to give the best overall solution to the problem.

Exploding MCBs are common as too are failing RCDs.
Couple that with some really appalling and deadly fakes now being circulated throughout the electrical wholesale industy I wouldn't be too sure any new stuff is better either.

It's a fair point that MCBs/RCDs are more complex devices than simple fuses and that, therefore, they may be less reliable in absolute terms. But, with a house full of very old wiring of unknown condition, I'd choose their superior level of protection over simple fuses any day.

Safety-compromised counterfeit products is a whole different debate though, and can apply to almost anything these days. I believe it's particularly rife in vehicle brake components, or used to be.

 

[Flyfisher]

I vote that the sageiest observation on the year.

I don't remember saying anything about the year.

 

[Johnboy]

While I was rummaging around in one of the 'sheds' in the garden of our Welsh cottage I found this fuse board and a number of ceramic based switches. I presume one of the previous owners had replaced them at some point as the place was rewired in the late 90's.

I showed the fuse board to an Electrican friend of mine who told me that he had never seen anything quite like it in 30+ years in the trade! I asked him if the switches could be used again and his answer was ''Sell them on ebay and use the money towards some modern period replacements''...!!

 

[MdB]

I showed the fuse board to an Electrican friend of mine who told me that he had never seen anything quite like it in 30+ years in the trade! I asked him if the switches could be used again and his answer was ''Sell them on ebay and use the money towards some modern period replacements''...!!

I would agree with that, however a better use would be to give them to a keen 10 year old together with some AA batteries and a few miniature bulbs. This might be the start of a career in Electronics - it worked for me!

 

[Feltwell]

I would agree with that, however a better use would be to give them to a keen 10 year old together with some AA batteries and a few miniature bulbs. This might be the start of a career in Electronics - it worked for me!

Ahh, that's where I went wrong - I preferred just getting those big old square 6 volt torch batteries with the 2 springs on top and shorting across the terminals with my tongue.

Come to think of it, the electric shock amusement carried on - I distinctly remember being about 13 years old, bored and stuck in a physics lesson - about 6 of us formed an insulated human chain between a Van der Graaf generator and an unsuspecting, non-insulated teacher. The speed at which he jumped and the shriek he let out made the subsequent detention a small price to pay. 8)

Years later I (accidentally!) drilled into a live cable and got a 240 volt electric shock. Not funny - that hurts!

 

[Penners]

I think your old physics teacher might call that poetic justice!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I think your old physics teacher might call that poetic justice!

Shocking joke, Penners.

 

[Penners]

I think my previous posts should have given you ample warning, so it's not my volt if there's some resistance to my humour.

 

[Baron de Gynes]

Ohm my! :lol:

 

[Penners]

I'm laughing until my stomach herz.

 

[Feltwell]

PENNERS!

DETENTION! :evil:

Such old jokes. You lot could at least have thought up some current ones..... :roll:

 

[Penners]

I believe in the careful conservation of old jokes, Feltwell. Otherwise all that heritage will be lost.

 

[Feltwell]

Here's one for you then:-

Two atoms were walking down the street one day, when one of them exclaimed, "Oh no - I've lost an electron!" "Are you sure?" the other one asked. "Yes," replied the first one, "I'm positive."

I didn't claim it was good!

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm laughing until my stomach herz.

Ahem!

 

[Baron de Gynes]

Well spotted, FF!

Watt was he thinking, eh?

 

[Feltwell]

Probably still had his mind on Gloria. He really can't resistor you know.