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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Shed wiring https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1316700217 Message started by Clint on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 3:03pm

Title: Shed wiring
Post by Clint on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 3:03pm

Hello, I would like to have my shed wired up, for 2 flourescent lights and maybe 5 sockets, (2 double sockets, and maybe 3 singles.) With its own consumer unit. I have found a spare 30 amp fuse in the main consumer unit, this was used to supply a cooker, in what is now the dining room. The cable is in the roof at the moment, and is about 15mm wide, this cable is in a round junction box, and is not connected to anything. My question is can this cable be extended to to the shed outside. The distance to the shed from the cable is about 30m. I would like the cable to come down the side of the house and underground to the shed. I now this is not a DIY job, part p etc etc.

Thanks

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by Lectrician on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 3:14pm

If it was me, I would run some 6mm² SWA up the wall into the loft, and then joint this to the 6mm² twin and earth cable. (certainly sounds like 6mm²).

I would not bother with single sockets - just fit some doubles. The price difference is negligable.

Get an electrician in to price, as he will have to make a judgement call on the earthing system and where to fit the RCD protection (shed ideally).

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by CWatters on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 4:28pm

You might save some money and make the job more attractive by offering to dig the trench.

PS: In case it's not obvious Lectrician means 6mm². This is the cross sectional area of each copper core in the cable. It should be written on the cable jacket somewhere but can be hard to see.

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by Clint on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 6:08pm

Thanks for all the quick responses, I am glad that it is doable, but I just thought of something else, if the lights are on, and I am using a router +- 2000w and a dust extractor +- 1100w will the draw be ok for the circuit, I assume it should be if it was originally wired to a cooker/oven?

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by Lectrician on Sep 22^nd, 2011, 8:49pm

Well, your 6mm² over that distance can deal quite happily with 32amps, or around 7000watts.

(32amps x 230volts)

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by Clint on Sep 26^th, 2011, 11:57am

Thanks for all the advice, this has really cleared things up :)

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by Clint on Sep 27^th, 2011, 11:53am

Been sitting in the shed, wondering where to put all my new double sockets (3 of them) and overhead lighting, what is the best RCD consumer unit to use? I don't want to be told I need something that I dont need.

Title: Re: Shed wiring
Post by CWatters on Sep 28^th, 2011, 7:28am

This would be a typical Garage Consumerunit..

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-sentry-4-way-rcd-garage-consumer-unit/33248

This particular one comes with an RCD and two MCB one 16A for power one 6A for lighting. 16A is about 3.6kW which is a bit too close to your requirement but gives you a rough idea what its going to cost (£40).

Might also need an earth rod.