Type of cable required

reilig

I have started to builld a new house 100m from my parents. I need a temporary electrical conection from my parents house to power lights so that we can get work done on these dark evenings. Just wondering if any of you budding electricians out there could tell me what type of cable I would need to carry electricity 100 metres and still have enough power to run a few lights? Is there a specific type of cable (Other than underground cable) that I should be asking for and is there a specific place in the north west or midlands that I could get it at the right price. The cable is just a temporary job so that we can get the house ready for an ESB connection and not have to use generators.

Any feedback appreciated.

Regards

Daniel

fishdog

SWA would be the best, it has a high degree of mechanical protection. 100 metres of SWA will be expensive, but perdaps you can use it for something else afterwards. It is ideal for direct burying in the ground.

Cable sizing depends mainly on two factors, the size of the load and the volt drop (that determined by lenght of run). I assume that your load is smallish, mainly power tools etc. but a 100 metre run is going to push that cable size up! I normally size cable by ringing the wholesaler (Eurosales 01-2941802), I tell him the lenght of run, type of cable etc. and the load. He has software that sizes the cable in an instant for me. Lazy I know, but simple!

staker

would agree totally with the swa option, for a 100m run you should at least be looking at 3 by 2.5mm square.... depends on what's going to be running off it-a few lights and a bench saw .. anything more and 3 by 4mm square would be better. use the cable afterwards for garden lights/ water fountain, motorised gates....

Stoner

1)You could also get the cable from CT Electrics, there is a sticky for suppliers on the front page.
2) but wait is this an electrical supply for a building site? if thats the case you need to use 110Vac,
the cable should be yellow flex, you can get it in 2.5 and 4 sq and it should be yellow after you have brought it through a traffo.

I dont know all the details but you should consider getting a yellow 110V extension lead and a 220/110 transformer, leave the traffo plugged in as near as you can and in as dry a place as possible, bring the power to the site using the yellow cable, the lights should also be 110V festoon lighting also available from most electrical wholesalers, though call around firts some guys will rip you off for this (they just sell expensive stuff)

fishdog

but wait is this an electrical supply for a building site? if thats the case you need to use 110Vac,
the cable should be yellow flex, you can get it in 2.5 and 4 sq and it should be yellow after you have brought it through a traffo.

Yes but the cable the OP is asking about would feed the traffo. Standard practice would dictate that this cable would be 230 volts to limit the volt drop and normally it would be an SWA when it is 230 volts on a site.

reilig

Thanks for all the information folks. Its much appreciated.

Daniel

Stoner

fishdog wrote: »

Yes but the cable the OP is asking about would feed the traffo. Standard practice would dictate that this cable would be 230 volts to limit the volt drop and normally it would be an SWA when it is 230 volts on a site.

I can't see where the OP mentioned a traffo? maybe i have the wrong end of the stick but all I see is a request to see what " specific type of cable" to use and this sounds to me like a building site (no matter how small) , fine 220V can be in SWA, but we need to cover all the bases and mention 110V and yellow flex, for example the lights the OP wants to power should be 110V and cabled in yellow flex.

I agree with the advice on a cable to feed a traffo, like you I am well aware of what the standard practice is however by reading the OPs post I can't say for sure that he does, thats why he asked the question, I think it would be prudent to point out to the OP, that running bench saws and lights on site should all be carried out at 110vac and therefore by using yellow easy to see flex.

Once again I may have the wrong end of the stick, but I'd risk being wrong over and above not pointing out what voltage should be used and what safety precautions should be followed.

davelerave

Id guess for a hundred metre run get some 3by6 swa minimum assuming youll want to use some power tools for lites only 2.5 mm