Electrics for a catering stall

[deecee123]

Hi there I am hoping somebody may be able to help.

I am in the process of setting up a catering stall and want some advice on setting up the electrical supply and what I might need for it.

The council have given us access to 3 x 32 amp supplies.

Our stall has
1x small fryer max 2500 watt on a 13 amp plug
1x small electric oven max 3000 watt on a 13 amp plug
1 x electric hot plate 1500 watt on a 13 amp plug
1 x electric kettle 1850 watt max on a 13 amp plug

I don't really have a clue as to what the regs would suggest but I was wondering if I would need to set up a consumer unit type situation with feeds off of it or would I be better using trailing leads with sockets on the end and if so what would you recommend using? Also do all these devices need to be PAT tested?

I am not looking to do this as cheaply as possible, but don't want to spend silly money but I also want it to be safe and above board.

Any help is much appreciated

 

[bernardgreen]

You definately need to install a consumer unit with RCD protection on all circuits. If the stall is to used after dark and relies on eletric light for safe operation then consider splitting lights and power on separate RCDs or RCBO instead of RCDs

If it is in a fixed location then check with the council if they will accept the use of the earth supplied with the power supply from them.

If mobile then you need to consider using an earth rod to provide an earth that is equi-potential to the ground customers are standing on when they are touching anything metal on or part of the stall. The "earth" supplied with teh power supply may not be at true ground and earthing the stall to this could result in customers receiving a slight tingle. In the un-likley but possible event of a fault in the earth from the supply then cutomers could receive a major and possibly serious shock.

Earth rods when standing on concrete or tarmac are obvious difficult to install and you then have to rely on the supplied earth.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I don't really have a clue as to what the regs would suggest but I was wondering if I would need to set up a consumer unit type situation with feeds off of it or would I be better using trailing leads with sockets on the end and if so what would you recommend using?

I recommend using an electrician.

 

[sparkticus]

This is outside of the realms of DIY. You need to get two/three quotes from qualified, registered electricians. Extension leads are out of the question and there is the complexity of the earthing arrangement to consider as bernardgreen has mentioned.

 

[Lectrician]

Is this a temporary install? Packed away often?
Do the 32amp supplies already have RCD protection?
How far away are the supplies from the stall?
In what form are the 32amp supplies? 32amp sockets, 32amp isolators etc?


I don't agree with Bernard that you "You definately need to install a consumer unit".

Answers to the above would help before any guidance could be given.

 

[bernardgreen]

I don't agree with Bernard that you "You definately need to install a consumer unit".

OK delete "definately" if this is not a self contained mobile unit.


But even if a one off use and the supplies are fused at 32 amp then using 2.5mm to supply the sockets is on the limit unless they are ringed. Having four 16 amp MCBs each feeding one socket would permit the use of the more flexible 2.5 mm cable on 4 single socket radials. And a consumer unit is a simple way to install 4 MCBs and enables use an RCD as an extra safety item and a single point of isolation

 

[Lectrician]

I don't agree with Bernard that you "You definately need to install a consumer unit".

OK delete "definately" if this is not a self contained mobile unit.


But even if a one off use and the supplies are fused at 32 amp then using 2.5mm to supply the sockets is on the limit unless they are ringed. Having four 16 amp MCBs each feeding one socket would permit the use of the more flexible 2.5 mm cable on 4 single socket radials. And a consumer unit is a simple way to install 4 MCBs and enables use an RCD as an extra safety item and a single point of isolation

But if the 32amp supplies are simply 32amp sockets which are RCD protected (many sites will have this already), then a 32amp plug, some 4mm min flex (depending on length) and a socket or sockets of some form on the end would be fine. I am thinking of the gewiss enclosures with panel mount sockets, often used for temporary distros.

No point over complicating things - answers needed first.

 

[davelx]

I can thoroughly recommend these (used a alot for distro in the entertainment industry):



http://rubberbox.co.uk/on-the-shelf/index.php

 

[Astra99]

I wonder if the three 32A supplies which are available are in fact on different phases, thus giving 400v phase-to-phase! This will have an impact on the manner in which the cabling is tackled.

 

[Robin0577]

+1 for the Rubber Box Co., I use them regularly.

It is likely that this will fall under BS7909 (the snappily titled "Code of practice for temporary electrical installations for entertainment and related purposes") rather than the usual BS7671 and as such you may need to find an electrician who specialises in this area.

 

[bernardgreen]

The original post was two years ago.

 

[Robin0577]

Ooops!

I must learn to read topic dates
I must learn to read topic dates
I must learn to read topic dates
I must learn to read topic dates..........