Hi there,
I would like to break into an existing 4mm SWA cable currently running from my house to a detached garage in order to add a 2-way metal socket and flourescent lamp to my humble 8x6 shed which is sited along the existing cable route.
The house-to-garage route is 25m and the shed is approx 6m from the house in the same direction.
Currently the garage supply is wired from the house meter via a 30A FCU (tbc) and 63A 30mA RCBO. Installation is I think circa 1985-1990 (by previous owners). The house uses a TT earthing arrangement.
A couple of questions:
I had hoped I could fit a junction box at the rear of the shed to terminate the two SWA cables together i.e., in & then back out again to continue to the garage. The box would conveniently sit pretty much immediately above the existing cable run, and act as the terminating point. From here I could drill thru' the back of the box & into the shed in order to to use PVC to the shed's 2-way CU.
1) Is it acceptable to spur off to the shed in this way rather than provide separate feeds from house to ea building? I don't think I would want 2x SWA cables running down my house back wall (the existing comes out of the soffit from a kitchen extension and then down the entire wall ht).
2) Could anyone recommend a junction box, if any, to fit on the outside of the shed such that it is robust enough to accept 2x SWA glands and will be weatherproof too?
3) Should the shed CU be made of plastic or metal? I ask because metal seems more robust but you can get plastic ones with a higher IP rating (I think the air in the shed will be damper compared to the garage). I won't need to terminate SWA here if I can use PVC as described.
4) Is it usual to locate the CU high up on the shed wall to limit the knocks or could it be located at floor level and serve as a terminal for the 2x SWAs too, e.g., bring SWAs up through timber floor and then into CU box? I like the sound of this because the SWA is covered & out of site plus no external box required! Though I don't feel too comfortable about a CU at floor level either!
5) Is it correct to fit RCD-based CU to both the shed and garage or keep the one existing RCD back at the house instead?
Thanks for any advice
Regards
I would like to break into an existing 4mm SWA cable currently running from my house to a detached garage in order to add a 2-way metal socket and flourescent lamp to my humble 8x6 shed which is sited along the existing cable route.
The house-to-garage route is 25m and the shed is approx 6m from the house in the same direction.
Currently the garage supply is wired from the house meter via a 30A FCU (tbc) and 63A 30mA RCBO. Installation is I think circa 1985-1990 (by previous owners). The house uses a TT earthing arrangement.
A couple of questions:
I had hoped I could fit a junction box at the rear of the shed to terminate the two SWA cables together i.e., in & then back out again to continue to the garage. The box would conveniently sit pretty much immediately above the existing cable run, and act as the terminating point. From here I could drill thru' the back of the box & into the shed in order to to use PVC to the shed's 2-way CU.
1) Is it acceptable to spur off to the shed in this way rather than provide separate feeds from house to ea building? I don't think I would want 2x SWA cables running down my house back wall (the existing comes out of the soffit from a kitchen extension and then down the entire wall ht).
2) Could anyone recommend a junction box, if any, to fit on the outside of the shed such that it is robust enough to accept 2x SWA glands and will be weatherproof too?
3) Should the shed CU be made of plastic or metal? I ask because metal seems more robust but you can get plastic ones with a higher IP rating (I think the air in the shed will be damper compared to the garage). I won't need to terminate SWA here if I can use PVC as described.
4) Is it usual to locate the CU high up on the shed wall to limit the knocks or could it be located at floor level and serve as a terminal for the 2x SWAs too, e.g., bring SWAs up through timber floor and then into CU box? I like the sound of this because the SWA is covered & out of site plus no external box required! Though I don't feel too comfortable about a CU at floor level either!
5) Is it correct to fit RCD-based CU to both the shed and garage or keep the one existing RCD back at the house instead?
Thanks for any advice
Regards