Grounding metal garden room

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Hello,

I'm building a garden room metal sandwich panels (
). I'm gonna bring an SWA cable from the house to supply power. Do I have to ground every single panel, floor and ceiling or it's fine to just ground the metal boxes I'm gonna use for the sockets? Would you recommend TT rather than TN-C-S from the house?
 
And the advice the OP is asking for...

Does he bond the metal work?
Does he bond every panel?
 
I would say no, in the main, they are bonded anyway with fixing screws, you are relying on the RCD tripping, unlikely with a TT earthing system, enough current can flow, to trip on over-current, it has to be TT as with loss of PEN, the door and door frame can become live in respect to true earth, so any metal outdoor shed or garage is treated the same as a caravan.

All it seems is built with self drilling screws and rivets, so if any part is earthed all is earthed. I have built a steel shed to house a sit on lawn mower, wanted a shed which was secure, so wood was a non-starter, we, the mid-week gang, as we are called, about 6 of us, all arrived with our battery drills, just as well, as by the end nearly every battery was discharged, likely looking at around 10 batteries between all the drills. Also, one impact wrench.

The electrics were done by another team.

My own garden shed is wood, so no problem with TN-C-S, however since I have solar panels, I do have an earth rod, so limited how much the DNO earth can vary from true earth. I was not worried about heating the building, so no need for insulated panels. As to how to take power inside the shed, don't want low down holes, where animals can enter, so outside socket, and penetration into the shed through back of outside socket.

Supply from its own type A double pole switching, curve B, bidirectional RCBO so I can if I so wish, fit plug in solar panels on the roof. I have a problem fitting an earth rod, my loop impedance tester has stopped working. So not worth buying a replacement, so if I wanted a TT supply cheaper to get a scheme member electrician to do it for me. Also since in Wales, it should be notified.

For the base of my shed, I used plastic pallets, so my shed is not connected to true ground, but the way the shed you show was screwed into the concrete, I would guess the earth loop impedance is likely around 100 Ω even without an earth rod, big question is if to use a copper coated earth rod or a steel earth rod, to avoid galvanic corrosion? I would make my mind up after taking the loop impedance readings.
 
Last edited:
I haven't watched the video so don't know if the question is related to something in it.

And the advice the OP is asking for...

Does he bond the metal work?
Does he bond every panel?
Is it? - the advice the OP is asking for...

Do I have to ground every single panel, floor and ceiling or it's fine to just ground the metal boxes I'm gonna use for the sockets?
 
Just bond the metalwork at one point, all the panels are probably linked together....use a continuity tester to check.
 
I haven't watched the video so don't know if the question is related to something in it.
And the advice the OP is asking for...

Does he bond the metal work?
Does he bond every panel?
Is it? - the advice the OP is asking for...
Do I have to ground every single panel, floor and ceiling or it's fine to just ground the metal boxes I'm gonna use for the sockets?
I'll let you interpret it any way you like
 
I'll let you interpret it any way you like
Hmm, mysterious! I suspect a little poke at me for not answering the question.
Well ensure each section is mechanically and electrically joined by robust means so all of them are effectively the same potential throughout its lifetime.
Then makke at least one bond to true Earth so it`s all at true earth potential and little or no chance of becomming step voltages.
TT earth at the ground around and not relying on TNC-S anywhere.

Any earthy parts will be substantially the same potential.
 
It wasn't really a 'little poke' at anyone as such, more a general thing as 2 specific questions were asked and the main one had been ignored.

I'm staying out of advising on this one as the last time a similar question was asked I gave my opinion which was rapidly shouted down.
 
It wasn't really a 'little poke' at anyone as such, more a general thing as 2 specific questions were asked and the main one had been ignored.

I'm staying out of advising on this one as the last time a similar question was asked I gave my opinion which was rapidly shouted down.
Go on be brave....
 

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