[BORBRYCE]

The cable in the remaining picture, the white stuff, looks exactly the same as mine. It is 3 core copper, each with a rubber sheath then wrapped in an outer rubber sheath, heat resistant to 87c, this is what the immersion supplier recommended. It looks identical. If it is only lighting cable, then you really want to change it as soon as though.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

going back to what i said how long does it take to heat mate its not worth doing it its going to take 6 hours to heat
 

Not sure why you would think that.
If I leave my element on for 6 hours it costs me 63 pence. I think that is a fair price to pay for a day working with hot water.

I would look again at that neil   I would guess a 3kw element @ approx 12p per kwhour = 36p per hour?

I dont need to "look again" 
I got it right the first time.

My tarrif is
13.434 per kilowatt-hour between 07.45 and 00.45
3.500 per kilowatt-hour between 00.45 and 07.45

Therefore if I switch on at 01.00 till 07.00 thats 6 hours @ 3.5p per kilowatt
I have a 3kw heater so thats 10.5p per hour
multiply by 6 = 63p

 

That IS cheap

I'm on white meter too but my night tarrif is 5p & day time 11p. My cheap time is 12.00 to 08.30

[Neil Gornall]

Is it any wonder newbies dont like posting on here,

As soon as they do they get berated!

We are bloody window cleaners not computer programmers. 

Its a shame as those pictures were very good, and for someone thinking of installing a heating element they showed just how to do it.

Way to go Matt!!!!

Jack, those installations were highly dubious to say the least. The cables being used were well below standard for the wattage they were carrying.

Lighting cables for an immersion heater. It would be laughable if it wasn't so dangerous.

Are you suggesting its okay to illustrate something, using pictures, that's not up to the job, has been devised by an amateur and is being bandied about as something that is perfectly fine with little regard or consideration for others and is an obvious danger?

You might want to turn a blind eye to be able to earn a few more quid, I stand by my principles though. If you dont like it tough.

Matt I am not sure how you can tell from my picture what type of cable I used, I have looked again and can’t see any labels stating its lighting cable. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me how you can tell.
I will then return to the electrical supplier I bought it from and whose expertise I drew on when I told him what I wanted and what is was for, and tell him Mr Bateman says you don’t know your job.
I don’t pretend to be an electrician (or a computer expert) you however appear to be both.

[Neil Gornall]

going back to what i said how long does it take to heat mate its not worth doing it its going to take 6 hours to heat
 

Not sure why you would think that.
If I leave my element on for 6 hours it costs me 63 pence. I think that is a fair price to pay for a day working with hot water.

I would look again at that neil   I would guess a 3kw element @ approx 12p per kwhour = 36p per hour?

I dont need to "look again" 
I got it right the first time.

My tarrif is
13.434 per kilowatt-hour between 07.45 and 00.45
3.500 per kilowatt-hour between 00.45 and 07.45

Therefore if I switch on at 01.00 till 07.00 thats 6 hours @ 3.5p per kilowatt
I have a 3kw heater so thats 10.5p per hour
multiply by 6 = 63p

 

That IS cheap

I'm on white meter too but my night tarrif is 5p & day time 11p. My cheap time is 12.00 to 08.30

I am with Utility warehouse, Have been with them for years now, very good service and cheap.

[Matthew Bateman]

It looks like 1.5mm T+E lighting cable. Its round as opposed to flattened. Flattened cable is 2.5mm T+E used for ring-mains and when coiled retains its coiled shape.  1.5mm T+E wont do that.


Lighting cable can be used on immersions but not only up to 2KW rated appliances. For those 3KW ones you need a larger cable to be able to deal with the load. A 3KW load is likely to heat 1.5mm cable to point where it is a very real danger.

[BORBRYCE]

A 3KW load is likely to heat 1.5mm cable to point where it is a very real danger

You are getting mixed up by rubber sheathed cable and PVC sheathed cable. I have the cable chart in front of me right now and for a 3000kw heater then 1.5mm rubber sheathed conforming to BS6141..1991, Is safe. 2.5 if the cable is PVC sheathed.

[Matthew Bateman]

The chart is irrelevant Ronnie if you dont know what cable you're actually going to use.

[BORBRYCE]

The chart was attached to the cable I bought, which looks identical to the the one in the photograph.

[Matthew Bateman]

I dont know what chart you have Ronnie, Im going on what a local sparky told me was necessary for a 3KW load as an unfixed appliance. But from what I can make out from that picture, the white cable is lighting cable.

[BORBRYCE]

That's the point. I only posted here for selfish purposes. This post had me a tad worried, but after re checking all the info that came with the recommended cable I am now satisfied I have the correct materials.
I don't know if Neil has though but......it does look identical to what I have. If you look close, the cable in the pic is pretty chunky compared to household lighting but it is impossible really to say.

[paul saunders]

It looks like 1.5mm T+E lighting cable. Its round as opposed to flattened. Flattened cable is 2.5mm T+E used for ring-mains and when coiled retains its coiled shape.  1.5mm T+E wont do that.

Sorry Matt but you are wrong about 1.5mm lighting cable not being flat, it is ............. if you don't believe me, unscrew a light switch on the wall and have a look.
The white "round" lighting cable (flex) is commonly used for lamps and ceiling lights.

[Matthew Bateman]

To be honest Ronnie, 2.5mm doesnt coil like that in the picture.

Anyway I am going to bow out of these discussions now. At the bery least my points have achieved what Id hope they would and that is that people might look a little closer at what they were doing with this setup.

I am in no way anti this. I think its a great way to manage our working situations in this cold weather. I just think that the fitting of it should be left to those who are competent, capable and able to do so. Im sure you are Ronnie, however I doubt others on here are if their postings are anything to go by.

If Ive made enemies by sticking to what I believe then so be it, at least Ive stuck to my convictions whilst remaining civilised.

[lozsing]

I bought all the bits today and was told by electrician that 1.5mm cable is fine as long as its the special cable for immersion heater.

[lozsing]

Matt i think you do well to bow out , do you think all people on here are idiots

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

You are wrong Matt I'm afraid.

1.5mm three core heat resistant is what's required. I've just taken advice from my best mate who's a pro' sparky & owns a large electrical contractor business.

This is also what's fitted to my domestic 3kw immersion heater & looks exactly like the one in Neil's photo.

[geefree]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=113729.0

there is a photo if you click the link and scroll down a bit...

think it may help, it has the element pictured with the correct cable