Ewan MacIntyre wrote:
While adding some sockets to my wife's study, I've found sections of
non-copper cable in my ring main. It's an old house, though the vast
majority of the wiring is less than a few decades old.

The cable has multiple strands, perhaps about 7, and is made
by Pirelli. I couldn't see a type code on it. It seems quite chunky, but
I'm surprised to see that it is not made from copper, but is probably
steel. Outwardly, it looks like regular grey T&E, but is more amenable
to bending.

Is this cable normal? I suppose my concern is that this particular ring
is quite long, and I understand that steel has a higher resistance than
copper. The ring covers rooms containing mostly lower-powered items, but
does include the washing machine.

Hi Ewan,

I shall be very surprised indeed if this is anything but tinned
copper PVC covered cable. I have seen a lot of this around, and in
general there's nothing wrong with it, exept that it does not conform
to current standards (being multi-stranded rather than single). If
the insulation is OK (not nibbled by rats etc) it should be perfectly
OK for some considerable time to come.

J.
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