Getting power to a garden workshop

[Lipsum]

Hi folks.

I'm building a workshop in the garden in the not too distant future and would like power to it. I need to be able to power a couple of ceiling lights and for instance, pillar drill/bench grinder etc....

I've considered running a waterproof extension cable to it each time I use the shed but I would really like something more sensible.

I want 2 rings in the shed. One for the lighting, the other for a few sockets.

There are a couple of things I want to ask.

Firstly, what should I be doing for safety. Consumer unit in the shed and two way RCBO at the source?

Secondly, what circuit should be spliced into, would it have to go back to the fusebox?
I'm fairly sure the cooker circuit is 40a and I could certainly have the shed electrics off when the oven is on (rarely, hob is gas).

Also could you guesstimate the cost for me? I'd like to keep it under £500 if possible.

I'd do most of the work myself but I'd want it fully approved and certified for legal reasons.

All advice, concerns and constructive criticism appreciated.

 

[Electrifying]

You're actually serious, aren't you?

Get an electriian in and he'll know the answer to all those questions.

It's going to cost you more by doing it yourself, because you'll have to notify 'building control' before you commence work......there goes half your £500. .....and then you haven't a clue.

You definitely can't do this job yourself, so it's not worth discussing it on here.

 

[Lipsum]

You're actually serious, aren't you?

Get an electriian in and he'll know the answer to all those questions.

It's going to cost you more by doing it yourself, because you'll have to notify 'building control' before you commence work......there goes half your £500. .....and then you haven't a clue.

You definitely can't do this job yourself, so it's not worth discussing it on here.

It'll be at least a year before I even consider this job so don't worry, I'm just coming up with early ideas at present, this may not go ahead at all.

I know how important it is to do the job right and so I wont even consider touching it unless I know exactly how it should be done.

Would it be possible for me to do the wiring in the workshop myself and get the electrician to do the rest to keep costs down?

And what should I be expecting to pay out to get the job done properly? I'd just like a preliminary figure to check if it's viable or not.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Your best option is to call in a couple of registered electricians at the planning stage.

Outline what you are hoping to do, they can have a look at your existing installation and then will come up with some plans and costings.
They will NOT ever NEVER in a squillion years be "splicing it" into a cooker circuit.

You can then ask your favourite electrician what work he would be happy for you to do to reduce the bill.

Digging the half metre deep trench for the armoured cable going up the garden would be a start........

 

[Lipsum]

Your best option is to call in a couple of registered electricians at the planning stage.

Outline what you are hoping to do, they can have a look at your existing installation and then will come up with some plans and costings.
They will NOT ever NEVER in a squillion years be "splicing it" into a cooker circuit.

You can then ask your favourite electrician what work he would be happy for you to do to reduce the bill.

Digging the half metre deep trench for the armoured cable going up the garden would be a start........

Thanks. I had a suspicion that splicing into the cooker circuit would be a bad idea

I'm certainly going to get registered electricians to give me quotes and I'm going to do a LOT more reading up. I've only been giving this any real thought for about a couple of hours and I haven't done much, if any research yet.

 

[Maxatoria]

I'd add in for a small water heater so you can get a sink put in to wash your hands and also for making cups of tea/coffee so think about piping that in and out as well to save on the digger hire/back ache along with perhaps phone/network points as well

 

[Chri5]

I'd add in for a small water heater so you can get a sink put in to wash your hands and also for making cups of tea/coffee so think about piping that in and out as well to save on the digger hire/back ache along with perhaps phone/network points as well

Why would you do that? Water heaters are high demand items and thus something simple like a 2.5mm cable supply for a total demand at the shed of no more than 20 amp would have to be lifted up in side to 4mm or even 6mm.


The op needs to decide the total load in watts of the shed installation, then consider the installation method and distance between cu and shed. Once that has been considered he can then calculate the feed cable size.

Most opt for a garage cu with rcd, two breakers rated at 6 amp for the lights and 16 or 20 amp radial for sockets. Subject to installation method and distance either a 4mm cable core or at a push 2.5mm could be used.

If you are unaware how a 20 amp supply can support a couple of mcb's that total over 20 amp, then research diversity.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Water heaters are high demand items and thus something simple like a 2.5mm cable supply for a total demand at the shed of no more than 20 amp would have to be lifted up in side to 4mm or even 6mm.

So?

 

[Taylortwocities]

[rant ]

i think we really should have a 10.5KW shower, an air conditioning unit and a power lift capable of raising a 20 ton vehicle.

Why does everybody go off on a tangent. The OP has not even mentioned water supply, nor is he thinking of having a 4 bedroom house at the bottom of the garden.

His total requirement is stated as

I need to be able to power a couple of ceiling lights and for instance, pillar drill/bench grinder etc....

Any other input is just fluff and puff.

[/rant]

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Indeed.

But depending on the distance, and therefore the ease with which changes could be made in the future, it would be worth putting in the largest cable that the budget can stand, the actual difference per m being a small-ish part of the overall cost.

 

[Lipsum]

Indeed.

But depending on the distance, and therefore the ease with which changes could be made in the future, it would be worth putting in the largest cable that the budget can stand, the actual difference per m being a small-ish part of the overall cost.

I would certainly be putting in 4mm at minimum. However this whole project is just in planning still. It may not go ahead at all.

 

[Maxatoria]

I always plan for the worst and that for me would be getting to the workshop in a freezing morning so needing to heat the room up while having a brew on the go with the lights on while perhaps using a power tool or 2

obviously that includes the essentials of any workshop aka tv/radio and a fridge full of beers and perhaps a PC to browse "stuff" at leisure as at this point the OP is probably trying to sell the idea to the mrs so he's trying to sell it as something that'll be used now and again to gain brownie points

 

[ban-all-sheds]

a PC to browse "stuff" at leisure

Would a PIR rigged up to a warning light inside the shed be a good idea, do you think?

 

[Astra99]

"A PC to browse "stuff" at leisure"?????????

Better put in some CAT5e as well! Might be too far to get a stable wireless connection!

I like BAS's idea of a PIR to warn when someone is approaching, but don't forget to use Private Browsing (IE) or Incognito Window (Chrome)!!!

 

[Taylortwocities]

And curtains