consumer box, help needed

[evulboo]

Hey all, im after some advice really, i will be starting a project soon at home of converting a shed in the garden to living quaters for myself.

I will need about 6-8 plug sockets, 2 lights and if possible i would like to have the option of adding a shower at a later date.

Can i come of the house consumer unit and add a 2nd 1 in the shed? if so could i have some advice on what type of unit and cables would be needed please

thanks phill

 

[davy_owen_88]

Firstly, this is notifiable work, you must inform your building control office of your intentions BEFORE you start work.

Yes you can supply the shed from your consumer unit so long as it is suitable for the load - older units were usually limited to a maximum of 30A per fuseway which will not be suitable for your needs. A better option is to install a switch fuse after the meter to supply your 'shed'. This will require the DNO being called out to install an isolator but it will be a better solution for such high loads.

To give you any more useful and accurate advice we will need more information.

What earthing arrangement is applicable to your property?
How far from the house CU is the shed?
What conditions will the cable run through within your property and how will it get to the shed?
What shower rating were you hoping to accommodate?
What is your expected maximum demand?

 

[Steve]

Building control will also be interested to know of your intentions to create additional living space.

 

[IJWS15]

So will planning - even if the "shed" is already there - living in it makes it subject to planning control.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Evulboo - the fact that you are asking such basic questions for a job which is very much not basic, and that you are clearly completely unaware of all the factors that need to be considered when answering the questions, show that you really do not have the competence to be attempting this work.

And you cannot realistically become competent just by asking whatever random questions happen to occur to you.

The only responsible advice you should be given is to get an electrician.

 

[evulboo]

ty for the quick responce, i will try to answer everything that i can,this work will not be carried out by myself i will get someone in.

1. What earthing arrangement is applicable to your property?
1a. I would have no idea. anyway i can find out?

2. How far from the house CU is the shed?
2a. From CU to CU will be 27m

3. What conditions will the cable run through within your property and how will it get to the shed?
3a. The CU is at the back door of the house im guessing SWA straight down to the shed?

4. What shower rating were you hoping to accommodate?
4a. Not picked a shower yet have no idea what to go for

5. What is your expected maximum demand?
5a. not sure really, i can list what i will have if that would help.

TV, sky, ps3, amp, 2x bedisde lights, 2 main lights, fridge, mircrowave, pc and other little bits, nothing much really

 

[evulboo]

@ ban-all-sheds - i fully agree with u, this is not something i will be doing myself, i just want to know whats needed and whats involved so i can plan ahead and not get ripped off.

@ IJWS15 & Steve - the shed is in place atm we had planning permission for it a few years ago and used it for a work shop, im not to sure about the legal side of living in it, but every other house on my estate have people living in there sheds, our house is over crowded atm. (can i get permession to live in the shed?)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Whoever you get to do the job, you can't do the design for him, so going into great detail on cable sizes etc (which you can't anyway as you don't know the loads) is pointless.

Your best defence against getting ripped off is not to try and second guess the electrician (you'd never be able to challenge him anyway), but to get a number of quotes and overview designs, preferably with at least one from someone personally recommended. If they all come out similar you know they're all kosher.

As for permission - you had planning permission for a workshop - whether you'll get change of use is anybody's guess, but it's all notifiable, and as well as the electrical work having to comply with the Building Regulations there'll be a water supply and drainage (either or both of which may also mean getting permission from your water company for connections), insulation, ventilation, fire prevention...

If you intend to do any of it in compliance with the law there is no way you'll be able to keep the rest of it quiet.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Running an instant heat shower that far from the house is going to involve some very thick cable.
If you've got mains water out to the shed, why dont you install a small Megaflo (Pressurised Water Vessel). and heat the water with its immersion heater.

The immersion will require 2.8KW against a power shower of anything from 8.5KW upwards.

Edit: I think that you'll find that even installing a Megaflo is notifiable under building regs......

 

[RF Lighting]

Nice drawing.

Where's the toilet?

 

[Taylortwocities]

And where would the shower go?
Don't forget you cannot have a socket less than 3 metres from a shower.....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And where would the shower go?

My money is on that rectangular area in the bedroom, diagonally opposite the wardrobe...

 

[evulboo]

ty for your responses, i wont be having a toilet going in as i wont be able to plum it into the sewage, and more then likely wont have a shower, (just liked to have an option for it) i can just use the house for these.

It is my thinking i would getting planning permission easier to "dwell" in the shed without having a shower/toilet. i would still like water running there tho for kettle and maybe a small hand basin.

what is my best course of action for this, shall i just contact my council?

thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Your only course of action is to contact the council....