Hi
I installed a garden radial circuit off a 30ma 13 amp RCD spur from my ring main before part P came in. When I did it, I took 2.5mm cable in a conduit from the house to a socket on the patio, likewise a 1.5mm to a light which is switched from a 3amp fused switch indoors but protected by the same RCD. Then from there, connected 3 core and earth armoured cable rated at '13 amps' which had a picture of a light and a plug socket on it (looking back I now realise is an odd size of ~2.0mm) underground to a double socket and light in the greenhouse. (greenhouse light is on 3rd core on same switch as patio light). After installing, I needed an additional waterproof socket for a pond pump half way along the garden, so I added that to the armoured cable. Total length from house to greenhouse is about 20m. From RCD to current fuse box is about another 15m.
I'm currently having an extension built and new distribution panel put in for the house, and thought it would be a good idea to run a separate 2.5mm T&E cable across house from new panel to garden RCD spur to separate it from ring main. (will get my electrician to connect it into a new 16 amp RCD when it's done, and to clarify, the 13 amp RCD spur is located inside.
Is this setup adequate? I realise there are 3 sockets in the garden, 2 on 2.5mm cable and 1 on 2mm aswell as the 2 lights. Part P red tape would suggest to me that the cable should be 4mm all the way along, but that just seems impractical as, at any one time I'll only ever have a 3 amp pond pump, 3 amp light and maybe a hedge trimmer on the go and would rather not get it replaced. Remember the RCD spur doesn't allow the circuit to exceed 13 amps anyway.
Just want to get your impression before mentioning my garden setup to my electrician, who might have questions. Seems over the top to run a 4mm T&E from distribution panel to the 13amp RCD spur when 2.5mm is perfectly adequate, rated at 25 amps. Voltage drop is minimal, as cable runs through uninsulated ceiling, then straight outside.
thanks
(sorry that was a bit of a long-winded way of explaining the setup, let me know if I need to clarify anything better) [/i][/b]
I installed a garden radial circuit off a 30ma 13 amp RCD spur from my ring main before part P came in. When I did it, I took 2.5mm cable in a conduit from the house to a socket on the patio, likewise a 1.5mm to a light which is switched from a 3amp fused switch indoors but protected by the same RCD. Then from there, connected 3 core and earth armoured cable rated at '13 amps' which had a picture of a light and a plug socket on it (looking back I now realise is an odd size of ~2.0mm) underground to a double socket and light in the greenhouse. (greenhouse light is on 3rd core on same switch as patio light). After installing, I needed an additional waterproof socket for a pond pump half way along the garden, so I added that to the armoured cable. Total length from house to greenhouse is about 20m. From RCD to current fuse box is about another 15m.
I'm currently having an extension built and new distribution panel put in for the house, and thought it would be a good idea to run a separate 2.5mm T&E cable across house from new panel to garden RCD spur to separate it from ring main. (will get my electrician to connect it into a new 16 amp RCD when it's done, and to clarify, the 13 amp RCD spur is located inside.
Is this setup adequate? I realise there are 3 sockets in the garden, 2 on 2.5mm cable and 1 on 2mm aswell as the 2 lights. Part P red tape would suggest to me that the cable should be 4mm all the way along, but that just seems impractical as, at any one time I'll only ever have a 3 amp pond pump, 3 amp light and maybe a hedge trimmer on the go and would rather not get it replaced. Remember the RCD spur doesn't allow the circuit to exceed 13 amps anyway.
Just want to get your impression before mentioning my garden setup to my electrician, who might have questions. Seems over the top to run a 4mm T&E from distribution panel to the 13amp RCD spur when 2.5mm is perfectly adequate, rated at 25 amps. Voltage drop is minimal, as cable runs through uninsulated ceiling, then straight outside.
thanks
(sorry that was a bit of a long-winded way of explaining the setup, let me know if I need to clarify anything better) [/i][/b]