Electrical materials

Earth clamp

Used for connecting earth cores to radiators and other plumbing apparatus. They will always have a metal safety label.

One-piece connector

Simple connection unit used to connect two pieces of flex.

PVC earth sleeving

Green-and-yellow PVC sleeving for covering bare earth cores.

Cable ties

Thin plastic strips with a self-locking loop at one end. When the other end is threaded through the loop it is gripped tight. Used to firmly secure foam lagging tubes around pipes and to hold together electric cables.

Telephone joint box

A connection unit allowing more than one extension line to run from one place.

Single pole

A type of switch that only breaks the live connection.

Double pole

The double pole-switch breaks both the live and neutral connections, isolating the appliance completely.

Plastic terminal block

An electrical terminal block is a simple method of connecting electric cables. They are also often fitted to cores when electric cable has been disconnected from a fitting while building work is taking place.

Fuse wire

Old style fuse boxes may be fitted with fuses that that can be rewired. It is important to remember to use the correct fuse wire for the circuit it is protecting.

5-amp fuse wire is for lighting circuits
15-amp fuse wire is for a circuit supplying an immersion heater
30-amp fuse wire is for a ring main circuit or a circuit supplying an electric cooker up to 12KW

Cartridge fuses

Cartridge fuses protect the appliance in the event too high a current is drawn from the mains. The cartridge fuse is fitted with a fine strip of wire which melts if the current is too large. However, different appliances are protected by fuses with different Ampere ratings.

5-amp is used to protect a lighting circuit
15-amp is used for protect a circuit supplying a storage or immersion heater
20-amp is used with a 20 amp radial circuit
30-amp is used to protect a ring main circuit or a 30 amp radial circuit
45-amp is used for protecting a circuit supplying an electric cooker or shower

Catenary wire

A tensioned wire that supports overhead cables outside. The cable is fixed to the wire using buckles.

Conduit

Plastic tubing used to protect cable that is to be buried beneath the wall's surface.

Junction box

A unit for connecting cables on an electrical circuit: such as the supply cable and the flex on a lighting circuit.

Baffle

A fitting for an electric light that can reduce the glare.

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