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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> What size SWA ? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1102370411 Message started by PowerTool on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:00pm

Title: What size SWA ?
Post by PowerTool on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:00pm

For a supply to brick shed/outhouse

Planning on having garage CU,lighting circuit with 4 100W lights and 150W external on pir,ring main with 3 double sockets to run washing machine,bench grinder,router,wood lathe (although unlikely to have more than the washing machine and one other tool in use at any one time.)

Shed is about 2 metres from house - want to put wire in before getting sparky in to connect up and replace existing CU for a split-load type.

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by plugwash on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:13pm

id spec for 40A (gives you enough for a full 32A ring plus a bit extra)

distance and therefore volt drop is negligable so 6mm cable should be fine

i reccomend running 3 core and using a core as earth rather than relying on the armour.

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by PowerTool on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:22pm

Thanks for that - want to do some of the work myself,and save a bit of cash ;)
And looking forward to digging a 750 mm deep channel for the 2 metre length of the run ;D

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by scotspark on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:24pm

best dig it 2m deep for 2m run ;D ;D

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by PowerTool on Dec 6^th, 2004, 10:33pm

Would do,but not sure there's enough space to manouevre the JCB.... ;D ;D

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by ban-all-sheds on Dec 7^th, 2004, 6:46pm

2m - no chance of going overhead? A lot less work...

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by Lectrician on Dec 7^th, 2004, 7:27pm

I would go for this new 'infra red' system - Cable-less lectrickery ;D

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by PowerTool on Dec 7^th, 2004, 9:37pm

BAS - is overhead cable acceptable ? (assume it would have to be fastened to wire support or similar)

Was under the impression it had to be buried. ???

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by sparkyjonny on Dec 7^th, 2004, 10:10pm

Car battery and an inverter, and Robert's your father's brother! lol!

If it's only a 2m run, no catenary wire is required by the regs (although nice). SWA would be a good idea in case it gets damaged. 3.5m high, or 5.8m if accessible to vehicles.

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by L.Spark on Dec 7^th, 2004, 10:12pm

wrote on Dec 7^th, 2004, 9:37pm:

BAS - is overhead cable acceptable ? (assume it would have to be fastened to wire support or similar)

Was under the impression it had to be buried. ???

nah, can be run on caternary wire like Jonny said, or run on cable tray, fixed to steel structure......if you had one ;D

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by ban-all-sheds on Dec 9^th, 2004, 10:43am

wrote on Dec 7^th, 2004, 9:37pm:

BAS - is overhead cable acceptable ? (assume it would have to be fastened to wire support or similar)

Was under the impression it had to be buried. ???

No - as they others said, o'head is fine, and a wire support, although not essential, would be a good idea.

Alternatively, of you could run steel conduit between the two buildings, you wouldn't need a wire, and you wouldn't need to use SWA either....

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by Lectrician on Dec 9^th, 2004, 5:00pm

And just to confuse matters further - Split Concentric is self supporting.

Title: Re: What size SWA ?
Post by L.Spark on Dec 9^th, 2004, 8:24pm

lol, like that matters since he's not likely to use that ;D