RE: Question About Wiring Regs.

[Nigel Orr <nigel@xxxxxxx>]

At 16:54 31/10/00 +0000, you wrote:
> > I seem to recall folks saying that you should not run Low Voltage
> > cables beside mains, to comply with wiring regs.
>
>I believe something like >50mm of separation is in order, in the
absence of
>a physical barrier (conduit).

That's presumably for inside equipment, or for single mains wires in
conduit?  It _should_ be perfectly _safe_ to ty-rap a cat-5 cable to a
mains T&E or flex, if interference isn't an issue.  Single cores,
designed
to be run in conduit or used for internal wiring, have less insulation
(only 1 layer), so other non-mains cables in the same conduit need to have
mains-rated insulation.

The general principle in equipment is to separate mains from LV by air
and/or physical barriers.  The greatest physical separation that is usually
possible is the width of an optoisolator or the gap between the coil and
contacts of a relay, both are usually around 10mm or less.  The
requirements for insulation are stricter for 'double insulated' equipment.

That's my understanding of it anyway, if anyone has any useful references
that say otherwise, that would be very helpful to know.

Nigel


-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/9/_/2065/_/973090627/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->