Hello all, I'm new so be nice!
Firstly - please be aware I am just looking for advice. I will not be completing any "electrical connecting" myself - I already have a few electricians who are up for the task and not charging too much. I would ask them about this, and will do, but wanted to get your opinions too
So, onto my situation! I have purchased a hot tub (well, my wife has, via my bank account ) and I'm in the process of building the concrete foundations for it. I'm also hoping to line up the electrics.
The good news is myself and the wife made a last minute decision to move the tub from the back of the garden to the front, next to the house. This is saving ALOT on the 3-core 6mm armoured cable I require!
The tub requires a minimum of 16 amps at the tub, "ideally 20 amps" according to a phone call with the manufacturer. The run from the existing RCD in my house to the "site location" is about 10 meters, 20 meters allowing for the cable running up and down walls here and there. My existing consumer unit has no spare RCD sockets.
The plan is to extend from the electric supply (I've forgotten the name of the little box between the cable and the existing ECU), and fit a new 2 way garage ECU/RCD next to it. One of these will carry a 20 amp fuse which will then run through 20 meters of 3-core 6mm armoured cable, to an external point about 2 meters from the tub itself, on the outside wall. At this point, I plan to put in a 25 amp rotary isolated switch (http://www.screwfix.com/p/ip65-isolator-switch-25a/15054). From this switch will be about 5 meters of cable running to the hot tub itself.
Firstly - does everyone agree with the above approach? Have I missed anything, or am I making any mistakes?
Some thoughts/questions I had:
Sorry for the ramble - I just want to get this right from the get go!
Thanks in advance,
RR[/url]
Firstly - please be aware I am just looking for advice. I will not be completing any "electrical connecting" myself - I already have a few electricians who are up for the task and not charging too much. I would ask them about this, and will do, but wanted to get your opinions too
So, onto my situation! I have purchased a hot tub (well, my wife has, via my bank account ) and I'm in the process of building the concrete foundations for it. I'm also hoping to line up the electrics.
The good news is myself and the wife made a last minute decision to move the tub from the back of the garden to the front, next to the house. This is saving ALOT on the 3-core 6mm armoured cable I require!
The tub requires a minimum of 16 amps at the tub, "ideally 20 amps" according to a phone call with the manufacturer. The run from the existing RCD in my house to the "site location" is about 10 meters, 20 meters allowing for the cable running up and down walls here and there. My existing consumer unit has no spare RCD sockets.
The plan is to extend from the electric supply (I've forgotten the name of the little box between the cable and the existing ECU), and fit a new 2 way garage ECU/RCD next to it. One of these will carry a 20 amp fuse which will then run through 20 meters of 3-core 6mm armoured cable, to an external point about 2 meters from the tub itself, on the outside wall. At this point, I plan to put in a 25 amp rotary isolated switch (http://www.screwfix.com/p/ip65-isolator-switch-25a/15054). From this switch will be about 5 meters of cable running to the hot tub itself.
Firstly - does everyone agree with the above approach? Have I missed anything, or am I making any mistakes?
Some thoughts/questions I had:
- Given I'm out of sockets on my existing CU, and will also have used up 1 of the 2 sockets on the new ECU, should I instead be getting a new 8 gang ECU fitted instead. I suspect there isn't much cost difference and would leave me "room for the future" - thoughts? Is there much cost wise in it?
- I was thinking about one day running some low voltage garden lights, which can be run from a standard 13 amp plug. I was also hoping to one day fit a outdoor plug socket, for gardening etc. I suspect the best thing to do in this case would be to run it from an existing 13 amp circuit within the house, and not make use of my hot tub power supply? Or, and this would be cool if possible, in an ideal world I'd be able to buy a 2 gang WEATHERPROOF RCD/ECU and put that next to the rotary isolator switch. I could then run a higher ampage to the outdoor RCD/ECU, and then drop it down there and connect one branch to the hot tub (dropping the ampage down to 20amp at the external RCD/ECU and another another branch supplying the low voltage outdoor lights / external plug sockets. Do external weatherproof RCD's exist?
- What kind of certification should I be asking for, from the electrician setting this up? I read at http://www.outdoorlivinghottubs.co.uk/servicing/electrical-connection that I need a "part P?" should I ever sell the house?
Sorry for the ramble - I just want to get this right from the get go!
Thanks in advance,
RR[/url]