Additional sockets in garage, fused spur beside Consumer Unit?

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Hi all.

I want to change the layout in my garage which means moving my freezers to the other side of the room where there are no sockets. The easiest way for me to add power to where it's needed (in my opinion) is to create a fused spur to feed 2x double sockets.

All this seems simple enough and would be easy if I could get to the wires easily but they leave the consumer unit and go in to the wall and only resurface on the other side where the sockets are.

So I think the best way to do it is to take the face off the consumer unit, identify the existing garage cable, cut in to it, terminate in to 30a junction box and then to a 13a fused spur.

All of this will be done with 2.5mm t&e in round conduit and surface mounted plastic pattress boxes (made for 20mm conduit).

My questions then are:

  1. Is this the best way to do it, without it becoming a notifiable job and therefore done by an electrician?
  2. The first socket will be used to power a full length freezer and a fridge/freezer. I've tried to look at the specific models but can't find any definitve information on ampage draw. I believe they will draw a fair amount at start up surge and then quite a low amount continuously. The second socket was mainly for futureproofing and ease really. There are no plans to plug anything permanent in. Is the proposed approach suitable for the amount of draw?
  3. Presumably if the proposed approach isn't suitable for the draw the I would have to upgrade the cable to 4mm t&e? Is it good practice or even safe to use 4mm t&e spur from a 2.5mm ring?
Thanks in advance
 
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No need to cut into the cable, just connect another cable to the same terminals.

Depending on the circuit design, it may be possible to add more than one socket without the need to fuse down.

Is it a radial or a ring final?

What size is the cable/ MCB?
 
No need to cut into the cable, just connect another cable to the same terminals.

Depending on the circuit design, it may be possible to add more than one socket without the need to fuse down.

Is it a radial or a ring final?

What size is the cable/ MCB?

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

It's a ring final, assuming there aren't two radials running from the same MCB.

The cable is 2.5 T&E and the MCB is 16a for the garage.
 
No point in having a ring on a 16 amp MCB. You don't need a FCU either. Just connect your new sockets direct to the MCB.
 
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No point in having a ring on a 16 amp MCB. You don't need a FCU either. Just connect your new sockets direct to the MCB.

Thanks. Presumably that literally entails adding a new live/neutral and earth to the corresponding parts of the consumer unit that are associated with the garage circuit. So instead of 2 wires in each there will be 3?
 
Thanks. Presumably that literally entails adding a new live/neutral and earth to the corresponding parts of the consumer unit that are associated with the garage circuit. So instead of 2 wires in each there will be 3?
Yes correct.
 
Yes correct.

Thanks. Just checking whether that is notifiable or not?

Also, in order to add more than one socket should I start with a 13a fused spur as it will be a radial / spur or is this not required when coming straight off the MCB?
 
And with your 16A MCB protecting the cable you can daisychain as many 13A sockets on it as you like.Installation tip- 2.5mm t & e will be no fun through 20mm conduit unless you can avoid using elbows and boxes. Use singles or just clip the t & e on the surface
 
And with your 16A MCB protecting the cable you can daisychain as many 13A sockets on it as you like.Installation tip- 2.5mm t & e will be no fun through 20mm conduit unless you can avoid using elbows and boxes. Use singles or just clip the t & e on the surface

Thanks for the advice. I did wonder about conduit, is it safe enough in a garage to just have it clipped to a wall?

Whilst I'm on the subject I may need to run some outside at some point, what conduit would you recommend for 2.5mm t&e?
 
Depends what you're doing in your garage. If you're chucking heavy bits of metal around then placcie conduit isn't very strong (better than t & e at resisting nicks from garden tools), if its more utility room than workshop surface t & e is fine. Is there an RCD on the circuit anywhere- (if garage is fed from house cu it may be on an RCD there)- one will be required for your new sockets (and no an RCD socket is not acceptable).
Outside wiring- use 3 core flex if its clipped to a wall outside, T & E or singles in tube are ok if you're just going through the wall and straight into the back of your socket.
EDIT T & E isn't really suitable for conduit full stop. Ideally you'd use proper galvanised or black steel tube, all threaded nicely, with singles.
 
Mini-trunking is thicker and more resistant to knocks.

Also much easier to use.
 
Depends what you're doing in your garage. If you're chucking heavy bits of metal around then placcie conduit isn't very strong (better than t & e at resisting nicks from garden tools), if its more utility room than workshop surface t & e is fine. Is there an RCD on the circuit anywhere- (if garage is fed from house cu it may be on an RCD there)- one will be required for your new sockets (and no an RCD socket is not acceptable).
Outside wiring- use 3 core flex if its clipped to a wall outside, T & E or singles in tube are ok if you're just going through the wall and straight into the back of your socket.
EDIT T & E isn't really suitable for conduit full stop. Ideally you'd use proper galvanised or black steel tube, all threaded nicely, with singles.

In the garage it will be used on the side of the garage which will be for household storage and fridge/freezers. It's also the side the consumer unit and solar panel installation is so it won't be subject to any bangs or tools etc.

In terms of RCD, it's got one in the consumer unit yes.

Thanks for the advice re outside cabling. It will be to introduce a new socket off an existing socket outside. The existing socket is on a 13a fused spur inside. The cable will be at head height clipped to a wall so won't have any risk of damage. It's more precaution and UV protection I was thinking of?

Edit: I do have some pond cable left over from another install but it's only 0.75mm flex so presumably that's not adequate for an external socket with 2 x 13a loads (potentially)
 
No, 0.75 won't do it. 1.5 white 3 core flex will be fine with that FCU protecting it, make sure you gland the cabling properly & leave drip loopd
 

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