[Help] Eletrical enquiry

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• #1

I am currently replacing my driveway lamp posts and I noticed the wiring is what I would consider dubious.

As you can see the negative appears to be made of the wire shield. It’s been like it for some 20+ years but should I be worried?

As regards to these wires I don’t have a fecking clue.

Over to you guys.

 

lawros left foot

Glory hunting since 1969

Jun 11, 2011

13,711

Worthing

• Sep 13, 2020

• #2

Shocking!!

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #3

I see you’re in Finland

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #4

Those copper strands look like armour protection and been taped in blue tape ( maybe didn’t have yellow/green tubing or tape)

 

swindonseagull

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2003

9,264

Swindon, but used to be Manila

• Sep 13, 2020

• #5

That’s not 20 years old as those type of junction blocks have not been around that long, as far as I’m aware..

 

*Gullsworth*

My Hair is like his hair

Jan 20, 2006

9,351

West...West.......WEST SUSSEX

• Sep 13, 2020

• #6

What voltage? Could it be low voltage wiring?

 

SIMMO SAYS

Well-known member

Jul 31, 2012

11,715

Incommunicado

• Sep 13, 2020

• #7

It only looks a five minute job to my trained eye.

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #8

What appears to be happening here is the black wire is the live.
It’s a solid core.
The outside protective armour has been used as a neutral.
It’s basically a single core cable with protection.
Needs to be ripped out.
If the new lights are 240v , you’ll need an earth getting to each lamp for a start.

 

Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull

Aug 27, 2011

8,540

Brighton

• Sep 13, 2020

• #9

Not sure what a single core with earth would be used for, but certainly not for lighting. Needs changing, I used a three core from Screwfix but others available. But can you not fit solar lights instead?
NOTE if swapping cable remember to tie new to old to pull through piping.

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #10

swindonseagull said:

That’s not 20 years old as those type of junction blocks have not been around that long, as far as I’m aware..

Click to expand...

I put those on as I didn’t want just bare wires under my bucket protecting everything.

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #11

moggy said:

What appears to be happening here is the black wire is the live.
It’s a solid core.
The outside protective armour has been used as a neutral.
It’s basically a single core cable with protection.
Needs to be ripped out.
If the new lights are 240v , you’ll need an earth getting to each lamp for a start.

Click to expand...

That was the impression I got. The other thing is the house is about 30 odd years old. The previous owner was an electrician.

It also appears that all the sockets in the house are earthed by wiring in the negative to the earth. Seems this was a done thing back in the day.

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #12

Mortdecai said:

That was the impression I got. The other thing is the house is about 30 odd years old. The previous owner was an electrician.

It also appears that all the sockets in the house are earthed by wiring in the negative to the earth. Seems this was a done thing back in the day.

Click to expand...

Mmmmm, I’m a qualified electrician.
The earth would only be connected to the neutral near the main incoming fuse if your house is TNS system.
Regardless of whatever has been done, you’ll need to run a 2-core & earth to all lamps.
Are they fed from a fused spur inside the house?

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #13

moggy said:

Mmmmm, I’m a qualified electrician.
The earth would only be connected to the neutral near the main incoming fuse if your house is TNS system.
Regardless of whatever has been done, you’ll need to run a 2-core & earth to all lamps.
Are they fed from a fused spur inside the house?

Click to expand...

Yep connected to one of the fuse boxes inside the house.

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #14

I recently got a quote of approx 20k-25k to rewire the house, garage and pool plus change all the fuse boxes I have in both the house and garage.

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #15

Buggered if I can afford that at the moment.

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #16

Mortdecai said:

Buggered if I can afford that at the moment.

Click to expand...

Back to my original question.
Are you in Finland?

 

Mortdecai

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2009

526

Kirkkonummi, Finland

• Sep 13, 2020

• Thread starter
• #17

Yep, I live in Finland.

 

Stat Brother

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

73,661

West west west Sussex

• Sep 13, 2020

• #18

Mortdecai said:

I recently got a quote of approx 20k-25k to rewire the house, garage and pool plus change all the fuse boxes I have in both the house and garage.

Click to expand...

A lot of money for a 5 minute job.

 

R

Rowdey

Well-known member

Jul 7, 2003

2,536

Herne Hill

• Sep 13, 2020

• #19

Mortdecai said:

I recently got a quote of approx 20k-25k to rewire the house, garage and pool plus change all the fuse boxes I have in both the house and garage.

Click to expand...

Oo.. that seems punchy, but then i read 'Pool' and thought.. pay up you tight basterd..

 

moggy

Well-known member

Oct 15, 2003

5,050

southwick

• Sep 13, 2020

• #20

Mortdecai said:

Yep, I live in Finland.

Click to expand...

So this is your garden in Finland?