ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

CABLE

3 Core Flex Stranded Cores PVC Insulation Generally used for appliances Advantages Very Flexible Low Cost Disadvantages Low Strength Limited usage

2 Core Flex Stranded Cores PVC Insulation Used for domestic lighting Advantages Highly flexible Cheap Quick installation Disadvantages No earth Limited usage

Single Core PVC Insulation Installed in trunking/conduit Stranded core Used for small power Advantages Carries more current than the flex’s can Disadvantages Containment can be expensive Takes longer to install as individual cables

Twin and Earth Solid Cores PVC Insulation Used for general wiring & appliances Advantages Carries more current than singles Can be clipped to walls Malleable Disadvantages Earth is not sleeved Not very mechanically robust

FP200 Silicone insulation for fire protection Used for fire alarm cabling Advantages Foil wrapped to prevent interference Good fire protection Disadvantages Can be expensive

MICC Used for fire alarms Contains magnesium oxide as an insulation material Advantages Very strong Good fire protection Disadvantages Brittle Hard to work with Requires pot head for termination

Fibre Optics Uses light rather than electricity PVC Insulation Advantages Fast transmission rate Almost impossible for signal to be interfered with Disadvantages Needs some form of protection Can only be used for data Requires special terminations for converting the signal form light to electricity Cable can not go around tight bends as the angle of refraction would be too great

Data Cable Contains 8 cables Used for data communication Advantages Good for transmitting information Flexible and lightweight for easy installation. Disadvantages Special tools are required for termination Not as fast transfer speeds as fibre optics.

Steel Wired Armoured Used for mains and submains cabling Can have PVC insulation Advantages Good mechanical protection Can carry a high amount of amps Disadvantages Time consuming to install High cost Requires glanded connections

CONTAINMENT

Steel Trunking Made from galvanised steel Used for singles cabling Advantages Good mechanical protection Fairly quick installation Accessible Disadvantages Expensive Not aesthetically pleasing

Lighting Trunking Used for singles cabling powering lights Can come fitted with light fittings Advantages Fittings already have a secure fixing point Reduces lighting installation time Disadvantages Limited uses High expense

PVC/Mini Trunking For housing general small power wiring Advantages Quick to install and relatively low cost compared to steel trunking Disadvantages Limited mechanical protection Can not handle large cables

Dado Trunking For housing general small power and data wiring. It can also have power and data outlets mounted onto it Advantages Internal segregation allows data cabling to be run alongside power cabling Quick to install Disadvantages Limited mechanical protection Can not handle large cables Can be expensive

Cable Tray Often used in ceiling voids and plantrooms for the distribution of all types of cabling except singles Advantages Can carry a large amount of cables Good ventilation Disadvantages Limited mechanical protection Not aesthetically pleasing

Steel Conduit Constructed from galvanised steel Tube shaped construction Advantages Good mechanical protection Wide range of fittings to aid installation Malleable Good for use in industrial applications Disadvantages Usually only used for singles cabling Limited space for cables Time consuming to install Large amount of fixings

PVC Conduit Made from PVC Tube shaped construction Advantages Malleable Wide range of fittings to aid installation Can be used for general power wiring in many environments Disadvantages Low mechanical protection Time consuming to install Limited room for cabling

Flexible Conduit Made from plastic Used for final connections to equipment Advantages Highly flexible so allows some movement Disadvantages Low mechanical protection Limited room for cabling

Clipped Direct Cables are clipped directly to the wall using cable clips Advantages Very quick and cheap to install Disadvantages Not aesthetically pleasing Very little mechanical protection

Embedded with Capping Cables are embedded behind plastered walls, and are then capped with galvanised steel Advantages No sign of cables or containment shown on surface Does no interference with appearance Disadvantages Has to be installed before other contractors Very hard to access after it is covered and plastered over

Underground/Underfloor Cables are contained in underground ducting to take them to other buildings or parts of sites. In underfloor systems cables are contained in either Trunking, Cable Trays and Ducting underneath a false floor. Advantages Very good mechanical protection and naturally protected from surrounded ground Labelled with tape, for good identification Disadvantages Very time consuming and expensive as trenches must be excavated.

Distribution Board Enclosures Distributions boards and panels that are made from metal. They are locked for safety and security reasons. Advantages Protects vulnerable equipments such as circuit breakers, switched and incoming mains. Safety lock prevents non authorised people getting into the equipment Disadvantages Can be very expensive Locks need to be removed when maintenance takes place