Earth Tag as Earth Continuity Conductor

[Matt.24]

I have read in the regs, Pg 170 the Note above 6.12.1.5, that the armouring on a cable can be used as an Earth Continuity Conductor.

Can an earth tag be used as a way to use the armouring as an ECC as well?

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[ians]

An ECC cable has tinned copper strands ... a plain cable doesnt have any tinned copper cores.

I have seen sparkies usea copper bonding strap around the wire armouring ... personally I would never do it.

[GCE]

Hi
You can use a earth tag to increase the contact area and create a better earth path.The note on 6.12.1.4 allows for that as you alluded to.

You would still need to verify that the resistance values are correct.

Do not mix up a normal armour cable vs an ECC armour cable where a section of the armouring is replaced with tined copper wires .
The ECC cable is covered under 6.12.1 b and d - Ecc manufactured cable is manufactured to a specification and the tined copper wires are designed to comply with SANS 10142-1 for the cable amp rating as supplied by the manufacture

Pasted both regs below for ease of reference



6.12.1.4 An earth continuity conductor may have branch circuits provided that
the selection of the conductor size follows the requirements in table 6.28(a)
and 6.28(b) with due consideration to the maximum length from the upstream
protective device.
NOTE The information in 6.12.1.4 also applies to wire armouring if it is used as the
earth continuity path provided it meets the comparable resistance values of the
equivalent earthing continuity conductor and the armour wires are all correctly
terminated using an earthed metal captive coned gland; it may be necessary to replace
some of the steel wires with tinned copper ones or to use a supplementary earth
continuity conductor.



6.12.1 Earth continuity conductors
6.12.1.1 An earth continuity conductor shall
a) consist of compatible conductors,
b) if it forms part of a cable other than a flexible cable, comply with the relevant
requirements of the standard for the cable,
c) if it forms part of a flexible cable, be of the same material as, and have a
nominal cross-sectional area at least equal to, that of the largest phase
conductor,
d)be able to carry the prospective fault current without excessive temperature
rise of the conducor, within the disconnecting time
e) if it does not form part of a cable or flexible cable, have a nominal crosssectional
area at least equal to that determined in accordance with
table 6.28(a), as follows:

[GCE]

Hi

Came across a reg that bears relevance to your earth tag question, this morning while looking at Joints

6.3.7.3 Any armouring or sheathing shall be terminated in or on equipment.
Armour wires shall be terminated by a clamp or gland in such a way that
a) pressure is not applied to insulating material, and
b) there is an earth tag washer (or similar) for connecting to the earth
continuity conductor.