Spur quandary
Posted by: Edouard S. on 11 November 2004
I have asked advice about this before, and have gotten some, which has in turn made me ask my electrician (and a couple of other ones) to find out about all possible options here in Switzerland, which I would now like to submit to the forum. I know the prevailing advice (including by Naim) is to install 10mm square spurs, 20 or 30 amps, but my big problem is finding a wall socket that will adapt to such a cable. I do not know how you guys manage elsewhere, but here in Switzerland there is no such approved wall socket available (and I do want to stick to approved equipment), save maybe for large and very ugly industrial type ones that would have to be fitted on the wall rather than in the wall. In addition, the maximum rated wall socket allowed here is 16 amp. Wall sockets here have no fuses, and I will only install one spur for now (I am well aware of the fact that several spurs would be better, as well as a seperate consumer unit).
The electrician is now completing work in our house, and I have to make a fast decision. Here are my options :
1) Install a 2.5mm square (rigid) cable, connected to a 16 amp wall socket.
2) Install a 4mm flexible cable, connected to the older type of wall socket, where you screw in the wire rather than clamp it in as is the case with the regular wall sockets (hence the need for flexible wire). My electrician says this kind of wire would have better conductivity. Another electrician would favor the aforementionned 2.5mm square rigid one, saying it is the other way round ! My electrician also says the flexible cable creates less magnetic disturbances.
3) Another electrician suggested I use 6mm square (rigid) wire, which could be fitted on a specific type of wall socket, but that would mean trimming it some, maybe shaving of a few strands to make it fit in. My electrician winces at the prospect, thinks it may cause background noise.
Please help, as I have no technical knowledge and can not make an informed decision ! My electrician is noncommital, as he thinks I am nuts anyways.
Thanks,
Edouard S.
The electrician is now completing work in our house, and I have to make a fast decision. Here are my options :
1) Install a 2.5mm square (rigid) cable, connected to a 16 amp wall socket.
2) Install a 4mm flexible cable, connected to the older type of wall socket, where you screw in the wire rather than clamp it in as is the case with the regular wall sockets (hence the need for flexible wire). My electrician says this kind of wire would have better conductivity. Another electrician would favor the aforementionned 2.5mm square rigid one, saying it is the other way round ! My electrician also says the flexible cable creates less magnetic disturbances.
3) Another electrician suggested I use 6mm square (rigid) wire, which could be fitted on a specific type of wall socket, but that would mean trimming it some, maybe shaving of a few strands to make it fit in. My electrician winces at the prospect, thinks it may cause background noise.
Please help, as I have no technical knowledge and can not make an informed decision ! My electrician is noncommital, as he thinks I am nuts anyways.
Thanks,
Edouard S.
Greetings Edouard S.
My electrician ran 40 amp 'electric cooker' cable from the fuse box through plastic trunking. This looks fairly discreet in a UK home, if it runs parallel to white painted door frames and skirting boards.
At the end, you can see the heavy cable going into a good quality loose unswitched 13 amp double socket. Just hide this behind the equipment.
You will also see an oversized 13 amp plug which will supply 4 IEC mains leads. My system of CDS3/252/300 runs from this one plug.
Hope that helps.
John.
My electrician ran 40 amp 'electric cooker' cable from the fuse box through plastic trunking. This looks fairly discreet in a UK home, if it runs parallel to white painted door frames and skirting boards.
At the end, you can see the heavy cable going into a good quality loose unswitched 13 amp double socket. Just hide this behind the equipment.
You will also see an oversized 13 amp plug which will supply 4 IEC mains leads. My system of CDS3/252/300 runs from this one plug.
Hope that helps.
John.
quote:
No duckies - you seem to be well inside the sanity barrier.
True, nothing illegal or dangerous has been mentioneed on this thread yet...
