Illuminated signs & cable glands advice please?

[Geraint Rhys Williams]

I also come from an Electrical Engineering Backround.

I would say that proper glands should be used (Im not actualy trading as yet) – I would certainly use glands etc and definately follow the guidelines of the 16th edition regulations.

I doubt if there is an actual code of practice for shop signs etc but there is for traffic signs, and they definately have full glanding/earthing etc.

I would also like to think that following the 16th edition regulations would give you back up should anything go wrong (ie if someone else services your sign and gets a shock etc).

At the end of the day, with a gland, the job is not only safer, but it looks a lot tidier and is more importantly safe!!!

Thats my thoughts anyway!!!!

Rhys

[Simon Clayton]

I used to work for one of the counties biggest sign companies, about 15 years ago doing surveys
One problem we used to get was fitters didn’t put the porcelain pots on the neon,
Many times I would get called to site and find a whacking great hole melted through the metal back tray, were the cable had been flapping about in the wind.

A lot of people can’t be bothered, that’s why I like to get the site sparks to do it, that way if the shop burns down through an electrical fault it down to them.

Simon

[Mike Grant]

I think this is down to 2 things
IGNORANCE & LAZYNESS

It’s the Cowboy element in the industry who just can’t be arsed to do it properly, how many times have you seen perspex and PVC signs just screwed to fascias without the proper sign frame.

I rest my case.

And yes WE DO use the proper glands.

[Kevin Flowers]

quote Rhys9918:

I also come from an Electrical Engineering Backround.

I would say that proper glands should be used (Im not actualy trading as yet) – I would certainly use glands etc and definately follow the guidelines of the 16th edition regulations.

I doubt if there is an actual code of practice for shop signs etc but there is for traffic signs, and they definately have full glanding/earthing etc.

I would also like to think that following the 16th edition regulations would give you back up should anything go wrong (ie if someone else services your sign and gets a shock etc).

At the end of the day, with a gland, the job is not only safer, but it looks a lot tidier and is more importantly safe!!!

Thats my thoughts anyway!!!!

Rhys

The 16th edition is probably not something a majority of sign writers would know of however common sense should be the order of the day.
1. you dont pass an electrical cable through a metal hole without providing secondary protection against shaffing etc
2. if you go to all of the measures to make the rest of the sign box water tight then it stands to reason that you should not have water coming in with your electrial supply.
3. the correct cable (a)for the relevant amp draw of the light box (b)the correct grade i.e armoured or at least an outdoor grade of cable.

I actuall saw a projecting sign wired in with a piece of twin and earth and no gland the real daunting thing that it was on a major sign franchises shop and to top it of fitted with 21/2 inch bolts with about 2 inchs of thread showing.

[rob@rjbsigns]

The wiring regulations you need are BS7671 book form £47.00 or cd rom £350.00 from the IEE web site
http://www.iee.org/Publish/Books/WireAssoc/index.cfm?book=WR 230
hope this helps 😆 😆

Rob

[Mark Horley]

Its amazing what we see on our travels…

I’ve seen live cables twisted and covered in chewing gum
The sign switched through the neutral on a fused spur (always live)
Conduit box’s filled with silicone instead of lid & gasket
Neon transformer wired to E instead of earth

the list goes on…

All we can do is do it right first time.