Help with garage power

[bizzle]

Hi

I'm installing power in my garage and I need a bit of help to clarify a few things.

The garage is separated from the house by a driveway (luckily not paved). The fuse box in the house has a spare 15 A fuse, and I am going to connect a cable to that and run it underground under the driveway and up into the garage.

In the garage it'll be powering a few sockets and strip lights.

Anyway, my mate said if I bury the cable deep enough (he said about 12 inches) it wouldn't need to be put in plastic conduit - is this right?

 

[andy]

Hi

I'm installing power in my garage and I need a bit of help to clarify a few things.

The garage is separated from the house by a driveway (luckily not paved). The fuse box in the house has a spare 15 A fuse, and I am going to connect a cable to that and run it underground under the driveway and up into the garage.

In the garage it'll be powering a few sockets and strip lights.

Anyway, my mate said if I bury the cable deep enough (he said about 12 inches) it wouldn't need to be put in plastic conduit - is this right?

if you bury cable it MUST be SWA. and SWA doesnt need to be in plastic conduit....
also, it needs to be buried 450mm deep which is 18 inch

 

[bizzle]

I've got 20m of 13A flex which I was planning on using, can I use that instead of SWA if I put it in conduit?

 

[andy]

I've got 20m of 13A flex which I was planning on using, can I use that instead of SWA if I put it in conduit?

you ****in idiot. call a sparky before you kill someone.

ive already told you. use SWA and do it properly. are you also aware that this is notifiable to building control and its illegal not to get them to issue certs for it? and they wont when they see flex burried 300mm underground.

 

[bizzle]

I only asked because I was told that flex would be safe if it was protected. I wasn't sure that's why I asked for a second opinion.

 

[andy]

I only asked because I was told that flex would be safe if it was protected. I wasn't sure that's why I asked for a second opinion.

if you think its acceptable to bury flex in the ground, unprotected then you shouldnt be doin anything with electrics

and i would call protected being in steel conduit. altho i doubt you have the equipment needed to use this.

and just how much protection do you think plastic conduit gives when you put a spade thru it when doin the garden?!

and in your first post you said you were told it didnt ned protecting, and then you you just said you were told it does

 

[bizzle]

Yes, I was told that it wouldn't need protecting if it was deep enough, because it would be very unlikely to put a spade through it.

 

[andy]

Yes, I was told that it wouldn't need protecting if it was deep enough, because it would be very unlikely to put a spade through it.

its still not good enough. it needs to be adequatly protected. just because its 300mm now it mght not be in a few years once you have lowered part of the garden or whatever. do it properly, which youll have to do anyway if you want to do it legally and involve BC

 

[shrimp]

I've got 20m of 13A flex which I was planning on using, can I use that instead of SWA if I put it in conduit?

you **** idiot. call a sparky before you kill someone.

ive already told you. use SWA and do it properly. are you also aware that this is notifiable to building control and its illegal not to get them to issue certs for it? and they wont when they see flex burried 300mm underground.

Now there just aint no need to be abusive is there the bloke was only asking for advice,

 

[andy]

i wonder how he will connect it?!

(image stolen from adam151)

 

[bizzle]

Will this swa be suitable?

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=84106&ts=53979

 

[ban-all-sheds]

How long will the cable need to be?

 

[bizzle]

About 15 metres from the fuse box to the garage

 

[andy]

Will this swa be suitable?

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=84106&ts=53979[/QUOTE]

if on 15A then it should be, altho i would strongly recommend you use 4mm instead incase demand changes

 

[bizzle]

If I use 4mm will I have to change the fuse?