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Electrical

Patress problem with 10mm cable

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.36 PM

I am wiring in a Britannia all electric range cooker with ceramic hob on 10mm cable and am having considerable difficulty in closing the switch into the partess (47mm) because the wires will not bend sufficiently and the switch is the 'wrong way round' meaning that to have the switch the right way up (with neon) I would have to cross the wires into the box which I don't want to do and indeed can't because there is not enough room to clamp it down and the wires are not flexible enough to do that in any case. Can someone please suggest a double pole switch for 10mm which allows plenty of connection room, please and I shall start again from scratch. I also need a suitably spacious junction box at the other end for feed to load. Do others have this problem? To David: I am grateful to you for your kind reply. I have trawled the net and asked at Screwfix and was assured none deeper were made. My CEF catalogue shows one at 50mm - but that's only 3mm more than the one I'm struggling with. I think I will go for a rectangular box. Thanks, Kenneth. Here's a dangerous thought! Thinking of the few I have left of my grandfather's wooden DC round 2-pin plugs and sockets (ceramic with screwed wooden cover) - is it against regs to build my own wooden pattress the depth I want?! Actually with the addition of a modern earth and breakers - probably far less dangerous at 45amps than it was at 5 in 1920 - - Thanks everyone - yes, I had trimmed the wires the same length and now I am going to buy a much larger switch and pattress and start again. MK ought to design some ease of use switches and outlet junctions specifically for 10mm and above cable that needs absolute minimal dressing and an easy set of connections. That would benefit eveyone!

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4 Answers

BACS - Aviation Consultancy Services Limited

Rating: 4.1 out of 5

York

Hi Kenneth This can be a problem. But start by going to a merchants and getting the deepest back box available, you will find more deeper boxs available at a merchant/Wholesalers than you will at B&Q/Wickes/Screwfix. With a 56mm back box say, this will give you enough room to manipulate the wires into the correct position. Although it’s always hard with 10mm cable. Hope that helps? David

Answered16 January 2021

Anonymous user

The trick with wiring a large cable in to a patress box is neatness. The wires will go in as I've done many myself. Don't cut the wires too short. They need to be eased in to the box. Cut all the wires the same length. This helps to reduce strain on the wires when you are wiring the switch. Make sure the terminal screws are very tight and then dress the wires in to the corners of the patress as you push the switch in to position. You will have to wrestle it in but it should go. To my knowledge 47mm is the deepest box on the market and there is no reason why you would need a deeper one. Edit: Try using a 2-gang size pattress and a 2-gang size switch to create more space. If you are using single gang it is why you are struggling.

Answered17 January 2021

Cannon Electrical

No reviews yet

Hull

Hi Kenneth, you could change the back box and switch to a double that is mounted vertical and get a vertical mounted cooker switch. That should give more room in the back box for terminating.

Answered26 January 2021

Anonymous user

Working with 10mm cable is not easy. If you need extra space in the back box there is a spacer availalbe from Screwfix / CEF which goes between the back box and front plate to give an extra 5mm.

Answered29 January 2021