Re: Stuffed by a lighting circuit

["Chris Malme" <ChrisM@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Neil Fuller" <neil@f...> wrote:
> >>Not necessarily; you can get single core that
> >>is double sheathed
>
> Yes, it's true that you can get double sheathed
> singles but in 25 years of 'sparking', I've never
> seen them used to fully wire a house. Infact,
> I can only think of one instance that I've seen
> double insulated single core cable used at all.
>
> If Chris's house has been wired in double insulated
> singles, he's one unlucky bloke!

I understand home electrics (at least, I think/hope so), but only as
a DIYer, so I will describe the wiring, rather than risk
misunderstanding the terms.

At switch level, there is a bloody thick red single sheathed cable
coming in and out of the box - this is live. There appears to be no
earth accompanying this wire. At ceiling level, there is loop of
thinner cable. Outside sheath is grey, containing a single black-
sheathed wire (the neutral) and an unsheathed earth.

Connecting each rose to each switch is a similar wire - grey,
containing a single red-sheathed wire and an unsheathed earth. The
only exception to this is the two way feed between the hall switches,
which is grey, containing a black-sheathed wire, a red-sheathed wire
and an unsheathed earth.

As I say, up to last week, I really did think I understood the
general principles, but this experience really gave me pause. It's
reassuring to hear that it seems to be the builders, and not me.

Chris