Doubtless this is a real bodge, but....
I currently run power down to my shed using a cheapo 25mtr extension cable, from an outdoor socket on the back of my house. In the shed I'm just
running a florescent tube and power supply for my laptop/speakers...
I'd like to stick a wire down permanently, basically just replicating the existing setup but a bit neater, probably by burying it a few inches
under the lawn, or possibly tacking it down the side of the garden fence.
Apart from it being a bodge, are there any major pitfalls here? And is there a cheaper way of doing it than just butchering the cheapo extension reel
to get it in place?
With anything more permanent than a extension then to letter of law you should get an electrician to do and sign off (or just sign off what you've done).
Ultraviolet will eventually harden and crack PVC cable covering. Anything permanent you should use proper armoured cable.
Especially if it is buried.
[Edited on 22/3/16 by Macbeast]
You should really use armoured cable for this sort of job; it may be expensive, but it's designed for a reason. However, if money is really tight then you could continue to use the current setup - but my advice would be to feed the cable into a suitable length of hosepipe, seal the ends with leccy tape/self-amalgamating tape or heatshrink, and bury under the ground to a decent depth (and position) where it's not likely to be stabbed or cut into. This isn't a compliant approach of suitable long-term, but should see you through.
I wired up my dads shed 13 years ago using plastic conduit and "normal" cable. (was cheaper than armoured). Pulled the power cable along
with a Cat5 for ethernet into the conduit and burried it.... Its still working fine.
In the shed I fitted a MCB/RCD type consumer unit with a lighting circuit and a ring main again protected in conduit to make it look smart.
Technically should have been done by a qualified individual... but given the fact the last electrician I hired managed to wire a three phase
refridgeration compressor backwards and blew it up I think id rather do it myself knowing its done right....
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
With anything more permanent than a extension then to letter of law you should get an electrician to do and sign off (or just sign off what you've done).
quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
You should really use armoured cable for this sort of job; it may be expensive, but it's designed for a reason. However, if money is really tight then you could continue to use the current setup - but my advice would be to feed the cable into a suitable length of hosepipe, seal the ends with leccy tape/self-amalgamating tape or heatshrink, and bury under the ground to a decent depth (and position) where it's not likely to be stabbed or cut into. This isn't a compliant approach of suitable long-term, but should see you through.
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38I didn't permanently wire it in though, it had a plug on one end that went into an external socket. It was basically still an extension lead (although I'm not sure a sparky would see it the same way!).
quote:
Originally posted by jps
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38I didn't permanently wire it in though, it had a plug on one end that went into an external socket. It was basically still an extension lead (although I'm not sure a sparky would see it the same way!).
Yep, that's basically how I'm choosing to see it too, especially as it'll have a plug on the end and not be wired in permanently.
Hadn't considered the drain pipe idea, although I'd wondered whether burying would cause any heat problem, I guess this would alleviate that a bit. What spec wire did you use?
First shed wire I ran was cooker cable pulled into a bit of black pipe, it was not that successful so next time I purchased a length of armoured cable
of a much higher rating off eBay and used that, it cost my be £70 for 50'
Once you have gone to the not inconsiderable effort of burying it the extra cost to do it right falls away.
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
First shed wire I ran was cooker cable pulled into a bit of black pipe, it was not that successful so next time I purchased a length of armoured cable of a much higher rating off eBay and used that, it cost my be £70 for 50'
Once you have gone to the not inconsiderable effort of burying it the extra cost to do it right falls away.
quote:
Originally posted by jps
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38I didn't permanently wire it in though, it had a plug on one end that went into an external socket. It was basically still an extension lead (although I'm not sure a sparky would see it the same way!).
Yep, that's basically how I'm choosing to see it too, especially as it'll have a plug on the end and not be wired in permanently.
Hadn't considered the drain pipe idea, although I'd wondered whether burying would cause any heat problem, I guess this would alleviate that a bit. What spec wire did you use?
SWA is pretty good value. I got mine from here https://quickbit.co.uk/swa-cable/swa-cable-3-core
quote:
Originally posted by craig1410
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
First shed wire I ran was cooker cable pulled into a bit of black pipe, it was not that successful so next time I purchased a length of armoured cable of a much higher rating off eBay and used that, it cost my be £70 for 50'
Once you have gone to the not inconsiderable effort of burying it the extra cost to do it right falls away.
Couldn't have put it better myself. Same argument I use against using cheap gloss paint, most of the true cost is in the labour!
I've still got about 15m of armoured cable from last time I wired a garage in fact. At the time it was cheaper to buy a bigger pre-packaged coil than to buy what I needed by the metre.