External Cable to Garage

[gbrown100]

I have a detached garage approx 2m from my house. Separating them is a very nice professionally laid patio... unfortunately the power to the garage was not so professional - It was two inches below the garden soil where my pickaxe found it and wired to the back of a socket in my kitchen. I DO NOT want to dig up my patio and there is nowhere else to bury the external cable.

I would like to run a fresh spur from my consumer unit in standard twin and earth to terminate just inside the house (6m) and then connect a SWA cable to run through the external wall, along the outside of my house wall (at the base by the patio 3m), under a step (2m), through the garage wall and along the inside of the garage wall (5m) to an RCD consumer unit (current consumer still fuse box in house). I want to cover the cable running externally and on the inside of the garage with a steel capping and paint it.

1 - Can I do this with current regulations (subject to Part-P cert)
2 - I will be running a few sockets (maybe fridge, an occasional lawn mower), a lathe and some light off it should I have a 30amp radial to the garage and 4mm 3 core armoured?
3 - If I can't do this - any way of running the cable without digging or running overhead?

Thanks guys and gals

Graham

 

[TheGaffersSon]

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Id take the SWA (I think 4mm is suffice - one of the lads on here will tell you) into a 2-way consumer unit. (Lights and sockets) then tube out to the sockets: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WY204.html

Can you get capping for SWA? If you clite it proper, it can look smart. Even J-brackets look good if done proper, but I wouldn't put them in my garden.

 

[TheGaffersSon]

read this: http://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs...matters_electrical_installations_outdoors.pdf

 

[gbrown100]

into a 2-way consumer unit. (Lights and sockets) then tube out to the sockets

I actually got a 4 way 80amp insulated from TLC - just in case i wanted to run other stuff later.

Can you get capping for SWA? If you clite it proper, it can look smart. Even J-brackets look good if done proper

Not sure TBH - thought at least the law would be to cap. Not sure what cliting is (sorry) and not really sure what J brackets are! I work in IT and so my electrical knowledge is self taught really!

My main concern is that when I pay my local electrician (if he turns up) to come certify and finish off for me that he won;t turn round and tell me that I can't run it externally without overhead catenary or burying it...[/quote]

 

[gbrown100]

read this: http://www.iee.org/Publish/WireRegs...matters_electrical_installations_outdoors.pdf

Yeah - I just found that too lol. So I guess that scuppers that plan

Excerpt below:

Protection of the cables
The cable run from the house to the garage
must be suitably protected either by being
run overhead (see Regulation 412-05-01) or
buried in the ground (Regulation 522-06-03
refers). Where cables are installed in areas
inhabited by rodents, such as might be
found in a garage, the wiring system must
be capable of resisting damage caused by
gnawing (Regulation 522-10-01).

 

[TheGaffersSon]

I actually got a 4 way 80amp insulated from TLC - just in case i wanted to run other stuff later.

Wise man.

Not sure TBH - thought at least the law would be to cap. Not sure what cliting is (sorry) and not really sure what J brackets are!

Brackets in the shape of a 'J' that you rest the cable on. Used on factories and such, wouldn't look good on a garage. Clites are like cable clips for SWA.

I work in IT and so my electrical knowledge is self taught really!

My main concern is that when I pay my local electrician (if he turns up) to come certify and finish off for me that he won;t turn round and tell me that I can't run it externally without overhead catenary or burying it...[/quote][/quote]

Always go with someone who is recommended.

I'd go with what has been said already, im sure one of the lads on here will chip in with a ammendment or suggestion.

Ill dig up a photo of a clite, and where you can buy them...

 

[TheGaffersSon]

Its actually spelt cleat.

Heres one:

To buy them try screwfix, Tlc-direct.co.uk or a local wholesaler.