External Circuit Thoughts

Hey Team,

Recently moved into a new house and found a slightly weird setup I'd like some feedback on.
I have a pair of powered gates, 5 led lights and two external sockets at the front, these are all fed from a weather sealed consumer unit in what looks like a meter box embedded in the wall. No problem and it all works fine but I've just discovered its fed from two 2.5mm cables that arrive in a conduit into the cellar where they are both into a plug which is then connected to a socket.

I'm guessing this is a way of avoiding regulations as the electrical survey we had done states the external circuit is "Not within scope of test". Now, as I said its all working but I'm having some building works done that will make it impossible to access the socket so wondered if it should be wired in to the ring or taken to the consumer unit first? Not something I'll undertake, just need opinions so I can add it to the plan if needed.

Thanks!!

How it is done is more down to how easy it is to do rather than simply following normal practice. Reading what you have said the first point which comes to mind is are those gates compliant? There has been some high profile cases connected with gates and death so most electricians avoid electric gates as it near bankrupted the Manchester firm involved.

I will guess that is why the electrical survey did not include the gates, it is also beyond my comfort zone and I would also avoid them.

Clearly if the gates need altering to comply with health and safety rules, this may impact on which is required.

Mirez2000 said:

.... No problem and it all works fine but I've just discovered its fed from two 2.5mm cables that arrive in a conduit into the cellar where they are both into a plug which is then connected to a socket. ... I'm guessing this is a way of avoiding regulations as the electrical survey we had done states the external circuit is "Not within scope of test". ...

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I'm not so sure about that.

Although admittedly not, in itself, 'law', but merely guidance as to how to comply with the law (Part P of the Building Regulations), "Approved Document P says ...

Approved Document P said:

2.8 Installing fixed electrical equipment is within the scope of Part P, even if the final connection is by a standard 13A plug and socket ....

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Kind Regards, John

Mirez2000 said:

No problem and it all works fine

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Something working and being safe are two unrelated things, particularly where electric gates are concerned.

Shoving 2.5mm cables into a plug has all the signs of the whole lot being a dangerous mess that was pieced together by people with no idea what they were doing.

ericmark said:

How it is done is more down to how easy it is to do rather than simply following normal practice. Reading what you have said the first point which comes to mind is are those gates compliant? There has been some high profile cases connected with gates and death so most electricians avoid electric gates as it near bankrupted the Manchester firm involved.

I will guess that is why the electrical survey did not include the gates, it is also beyond my comfort zone and I would also avoid them.

Clearly if the gates need altering to comply with health and safety rules, this may impact on which is required.

Click to expand...

One of the aerial sites I have access to is via a drive which the owner put an electric gate across a couple of years ago.
Vary simple - enter 4 digit code into keypad and gate opens, 60 seconds later it closes.
Local Bobbies had cause to use the drive [as it is a back access route to a metal scrap dealer] but their 3rd vehicle did a head on to the edge of the gate.

The metal gate welds snapped and one of the horizontal bars puntured the front of the vehicle, the bulkhead and the dashboard, as it happened it clearly missed the occupants but they wouldn't have stood a chance if it has lined up with one of them.

Gate owners and electrians were both in the dock and found guilty as there were no safety devices in place. It was big news locally but I don't think it went national. There is another fairly similar gate only 1/4 mile away and to this day still has only a domestic PIR alarm sensor as the exit system and protection despite their knowledge of the incident and me, amongst others, reminding them.

Anyway back to OP, I believe any permanently installed electrical equipment [regardless of whether it's permanently connected] come under the regs and any required testing/certifying. 'Plugging it in' is permissible [some of my outside sockets are like this to make christmas decorations easier] but I'd like to know more about the 2 lots of cable you mention. Pictures help.

When you say it’s a sealed Cu, can you see what inside it. This circuit sounds well dodgy. As I read this you have a socket and this has a plug with 2 cables. The plug limits the supply to 13A, so I’m curious as to what is in the cu. as for the inspection. When I started out the advice was to get a couple of years experience before looking at PIR jobs. Jumping straight in meant we would have not seen many of the bodge jobs. Now, the route is get a qualification and go for it. That may explain the decision to just exclude the circuit.