What is this cable for?

CarPark2

Just took possession of new (second hand) house at the weekend and trying to figure out what various cables are for.
Any ideas on these three would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Hamlet

First one is twin and earth, 2.5 for cooker connections or 6, 10 sq for shower connection.

second looks like cat 5/6 cable for Ethernet connection.


third is for lighting circuit, switched live and neutral

CarPark2

Hamlet wrote: »

First one is twin and earth, 2.5 for cooker connections or 6, 10 sq for shower connection.

second looks like cat 5/6 cable for Ethernet connection.


third is for lighting circuit, switched live and neutral

Thanks for the quick response.
Sorry for being slow on the uptake, but I don't understand what you mean by 2.5 or 6, 10 sq. Can you explain?

For context, the twin and earth is coming up from the floor in a room that the previous owner used as a games room. Nearby there are two water pipes and a waste pipe, all of them taped up.

JabbaTheHut

I am making a small workshop for a car I'm intending to restore. The concrete slab is poured, but unfortunately it's a little uneven. I am planning on painting it with a 2 part epoxy paint, and need it to be pretty evenly level.

So I was thinking of pouring a self leveling compound on it, and when it's set, then painting it. Can anyone tell me if this will work out Ok. Assuming the compound will have enough of a key for the paint to stick to, will the paint be alright? Do you think it will flake or strip or fail in some way, or do you think it will be OK ?

bonzodog2

No 1 looks like 2.5 sq as its solid. the number is the cross-sectional area of the thickness of the cable. Higher current appliances like cookers, showers need thicker cable. Maybe tell us what rooms they are in?

CarPark2

bonzodog2 wrote: »

No 1 looks like 2.5 sq as its solid. the number is the cross-sectional area of the thickness of the cable. Higher current appliances like cookers, showers need thicker cable. Maybe tell us what rooms they are in?

Thanks for responding

#1 is coming up from the floor in a room that the previous owner used as a games room. Nearby there are two water pipes and a waste pipe, all of them taped up. My wife was guessing that it is a set up for a home bar that was not finished. The cable is much thicker than anything I have ever seen (2-3 cm at its widest point).

# 2 is coming out of various unfinished sockets all over the house

# 3 is coming out of the wall in the kitchen near some units.

Radical50

First is twin and earth, for sockets maybe.
Second is not cat5. It's 5 core nymj for mains power.
Third is for light fitting

Radical50

First one is most likely a 2.5 csa used for a water heater as you said pipes nearby

Radical50

Radical50 wrote: »

First one is most likely a 2.5 csa used for a water heater as you said pipes nearby

You need to post photos of the cables coming out of the walls from a distance so we can get an idea

Hamlet

looking at number 2 again, nymj would make sense but that pic looks like 4 twin cat cable. Doesn't look like any rubber
inner in the pic.

bonzodog2

Radical50 wrote: »

First is twin and earth, for sockets maybe.
Second is not cat5. It's 5 core nymj for mains power.
Third is for light fitting

looks like more than 5 cores. OP, strip it back for a better pic?

Radical50

bonzodog2 wrote: »

looks like more than 5 cores. OP, strip it back for a better pic?

If you look at photo it's 5 cores and the string above the brown.

CarPark2

Radical50 wrote: »

You need to post photos of the cables coming out of the walls from a distance so we can get an idea

Ok will do. Not moved in yet, so tomorrow. Are these likely to be live??

CarPark2

bonzodog2 wrote: »

looks like more than 5 cores. OP, strip it back for a better pic?

Will do, but if will be tomorrow. Is this likely to be live?

bonzodog2

CarPark2 wrote: »

Will do, but if will be tomorrow. Is this likely to be live?

Probably not, a good sparks shouldn't leave a live cable like that, but cut the power before you strip the sheath to be safe

Steve

Seriously, you should get someone who knows what they are doing to advise you, nevermind the REC guys, any competent electrician will know.

You are risking your life if you don't fully understand what these wires do..

riclad

Switch off the power at the consumer unit,
then wrap plastic tape around the cables,2 or 3 times around .
its best to treat all cables as live .
as for the third cable ,put tape around the box.
You dont want kids opening it up.
make sure cables or at tied up or secured at least 2 ft over ground level,
in case they come in contact with water .

ted1

CarPark2 wrote: »

Hamlet wrote: »

First one is twin and earth, 2.5 for cooker connections or 6, 10 sq for shower connection.

second looks like cat 5/6 cable for Ethernet connection.


third is for lighting circuit, switched live and neutral

Thanks for the quick response.
Sorry for being slow on the uptake, but I don't understand what you mean by 2.5 or 6, 10 sq. Can you explain?

For context, the twin and earth is coming up from the floor in a room that the previous owner used as a games room. Nearby there are two water pipes and a waste pipe, all of them taped up.

Sounds like they planned to have an electric shower up there