"Brian" wrote in message
...
- In another bedroom, I had to chisel out the ring main cable
from a
concrete wall. This involved accidentally baring the cable in
parts so I
decided to cut it off from the highest point I could and apply
new
cable. To
join old + new cable, I used 30 amp terminal blocks but over
tightened
some
so the metal cracked. The cables seemed to be fixed tight so I
didn't
worry.
Should I have?

If you are going to plaster over the cable again then you need to
either
solder or crimp the join and not use screw terminals. Sheath the
individual wires and the overall cable in heatshrink as well.


OK - I've decided that the terminal blocks aren't a good enough
solution so
I've decided they must come out. Some were contained behind
plasterboard,
which has meant a messy pain in the a*** to expose them, but I guess
you
live and learn.

I'm going to go and buy a crimping kit but I don't fancy mucking
around with
heatshrink wrap (I haven't got a soldering iron and the terminal
blocks I'm
replacing are in awkward positions). Will good electrical tape do as
good a
job?

One other question - is there any harm in my using 4mm core cable in
what
may be a 2.5mm core radial system?


Put your tools down NOW and step back, you are clueless and a danger,
employ an electrician before you burn your house down...