Electrical - TPS clipping ties in ceiling

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Electrical - TPS clipping ties in ceiling

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#260116 11-Nov-2019 16:21

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help me with the current practice for clipping TPS cable in the ceiling for lights and power points etc, to the wood work.

Years ago we got these little metal straps you would staple to the side of the wood, and the TPS lays on top and the strap ties around it.

Are those still used these days, or is there something new?

What are they called? Just trying to find what is the normal practice these days.

Thanks

bales

116 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

#2351798 11-Nov-2019 18:12

they are still used today, called pin clips.

Tracer

343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2351813 11-Nov-2019 18:18

Pin clips are still standard practice. I grip my hammer normally, put my thumb out towards the head, and the spacing is the end of my thumb to the far side of the head.

Yogi02

238 posts

Master Geek

#2351819 11-Nov-2019 18:36

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/cable-staple-gun-4-10mm/p/TH2610

Ive used something like this before, so much better than pin clips.

The size i was using would easily do 2 cables on top of each other 1.5mm easy and 2 x 2.5mm (3 core) a bit harder.

There is the risk of spiking the insulation if not careful.

Just noticed its on special and thought I might just grab one myself, but just noticed it has been discontinued.

WanaGo

149 posts

Master Geek

#2351821 11-Nov-2019 18:38

Thanks everyone.

Pin clips. Thats the ones i was thinking of.

What do you guys think of these? Considerably cheaper... but too fiddly?
https://www.trademe.co.nz/2396055030

Thanks

wazzageek

1093 posts

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#2351902 11-Nov-2019 21:38

I used pin clips under the house for bundling data cable runs together, then cable ties in the walls to keep bundles together (where the cables are gathered together and making the way to the central cabinet)

This made me wonder if a staple gun and cable ties would work well?

mattwnz

20106 posts

Uber Geek

#2351960 11-Nov-2019 22:44

WanaGo:

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help me with the current practice for clipping TPS cable in the ceiling for lights and power points etc, to the wood work.

Years ago we got these little metal straps you would staple to the side of the wood, and the TPS lays on top and the strap ties around it.

Are those still used these days, or is there something new?

What are they called? Just trying to find what is the normal practice these days.

Thanks

I don't think they are too widely used today. Electrical work I have seen just lays cables all over the ceiling space Although I understand there is a requirement for it to be secured where wires are a certain distance from any access point into the ceiling.

Kickinbac

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2352413 12-Nov-2019 19:08

Some of the current practice I’ve seen in new builds are just nails hammered in and bent over to hold the cables in place. Also lots of cables just dragged through the ceiling with no clips at all. Looks messy and was surprised it was acceptable. Have seen this in several houses.

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Tracer

343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2353609 15-Nov-2019 00:25

Yogi02:

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/cable-staple-gun-4-10mm/p/TH2610

Ive used something like this before, so much better than pin clips.

The size i was using would easily do 2 cables on top of each other 1.5mm easy and 2 x 2.5mm (3 core) a bit harder.

There is the risk of spiking the insulation if not careful.

Just noticed its on special and thought I might just grab one myself, but just noticed it has been discontinued.

I have one of those, although unsure where it is. I used it once, and never again. Pin clips are a lot better, especially if you might be back another day to add another cable.

Stu

Hammered
8282 posts

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#2353644 15-Nov-2019 08:16

Kickinbac: Some of the current practice I’ve seen in new builds are just nails hammered in and bent over to hold the cables in place. Also lots of cables just dragged through the ceiling with no clips at all. Looks messy and was surprised it was acceptable. Have seen this in several houses.

I'm also seeing this in new builds. It would be nice to have a comment from an electrician as to whether or not this is now okay or if corners are being cut and not being pulled up during inspections.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Tracer

343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2354227 15-Nov-2019 13:24

The nails are simply to hold the cables up out of the way until the Gib is fitted. They should really be removed after that. You only need to pin clip in certain scenarios. In ceilings that's within two metres of the manhole, or where the access space is higher than 0.6 m.

-e- I don't do house work, but on the odd occasion I have, I've taken a leaf out of my industrial playbook and run a cable tray up the centre of the house and cable tied all the cables along that (the ceiling is usually > 0.6 m in the centre), and they just branch off along the way to where they need to go.

Tracer

343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2354230 15-Nov-2019 13:31

Stu: if corners are being cut and not being pulled up during inspections.

The electrical inspector has no obligation to inspect this part as it is not deemed high risk work. It's on the electrical worker doing the job to certify that it's compliant, and the inspector can take their word for it.

Kickinbac

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2354563 16-Nov-2019 10:09

Tracer:
The nails are simply to hold the cables up out of the way until the Gib is fitted. They should really be removed after that. You only need to pin clip in certain scenarios. In ceilings that's within two metres of the manhole, or where the access space is higher than 0.6 m.

-e- I don't do house work, but on the odd occasion I have, I've taken a leaf out of my industrial playbook and run a cable tray up the centre of the house and cable tied all the cables along that (the ceiling is usually > 0.6 m in the centre), and they just branch off along the way to where they need to go.

Thanks for the comment and sounds like what I see.
In my 80’s house every cable is clipped throughout the ceiling.

gregmcc

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#2354591 16-Nov-2019 12:19

Kickinbac:
Tracer:

The nails are simply to hold the cables up out of the way until the Gib is fitted. They should really be removed after that. You only need to pin clip in certain scenarios. In ceilings that's within two metres of the manhole, or where the access space is higher than 0.6 m.

-e- I don't do house work, but on the odd occasion I have, I've taken a leaf out of my industrial playbook and run a cable tray up the centre of the house and cable tied all the cables along that (the ceiling is usually > 0.6 m in the centre), and they just branch off along the way to where they need to go.

Thanks for the comment and sounds like what I see.
In my 80’s house every cable is clipped throughout the ceiling.

There have been major changes in the rules since the 1980's, about then the current rules were the 1976 version, about 1993 codes of practice were introduced basically re-writing the electrical regs, then in 2003 AS/NZS3000 was introduced as the "rule book".

Current version is AS/NZS3000:2007