New Outdoor Wiring/Consumer Unit

[JohnW2]

He also said it only needs to be tested, and a certificate issued if installed by an actual electrician, if a resident does it to their own property, it doesn't have to be.

That's an interesting view, and I suppose it depends how concerned you are about staying on the right side of the law.

Even if it were not notifiable work, the law requires that all domestic electrical work be undertaken in compliance with Part P of the Building regulations. In virtually all cases, compliance with those regulations is established by complying with the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) which, amongst other things, calls for full testing and the issue of certificates.

It is, of course, true that many/most DIYers do not undertake adequate testing or issue certificates (which they are entitled to, if they are competent) but they would, if the situation ever arose, struggle to find a way of defending an accusation that they had not complied with the law (Part P).

However, in your case we seem to be talking about notifiable work (a new circuit from your CU), so I really don't see how you could get away without any certificates, even if you did pay the LABC notification fee. Perhaps I'm missing something?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ekmdgrf]

If we were doing the house up to sell on, or to rent, I'd be more
worried about the certificates & paperwork.

That's good to here.

here: adv. in this place; in this spot or locality (opposed to there ): Put the pen here.

hear: verb. to perceive by the ear: Didn't you hear the doorbell?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Sorry.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Hmm, actually I just thought his post was funny.

But is an idiot and giving you very bad advice, if you think his advice was useful I suggest you do as he suggested!

I didn't reply earlier cause I was at work, and also didn't want to inturrupt the little tête-à-tête that was going on.

That's fair enough but the guy is retarded and was not helping you!

Coincidentally our site electrician was in our office today, and I did ask him & showed him this thread. He went through everything needed, correct ampage of MCBs, size of cable 6mm, as Aragorn84 said, and agreed the shed would be a better place for the CU, again as Aragorn84 said, and explained the regs.

Non-domesttic and domestic electrical regulations and requirements are quite often different.

He also said it only needs to be tested, and a certificate issued if installed by an actual electrician, if a resident does it to their own property, it doesn't have to be.

That is incorrect, all electrical installations require to be inspected and tested, regardless of the person carrying out the work.

Whether I perform the install, and then get someone qualified in to check it over for safety after is always an option.

That would depend on what you were doing, at what stage/stages the electrician would visit to document the method of installation and the testing of it and if they could notify the work for you or if you had to go through the procedures of prior notification.
But you would also have to arrange and agree for an electrician to do this for you, not all will!

I guess at the end of the day, if this is our forever home, as long as it's safe I'm fine with it.

There is a legal requirement to notify and prove safe, this can only be done by the correct procedure of Inspection, testing, certification and notification being carried out.

If we were doing the house up to sell on, or to rent, I'd be more worried about the certificates & paperwork.

You still have a legal duty to prove it is safe, and that requires the above. Do you not care about this? Or care about your family, guest, pets, property and that of your neighbours?


Please also note that not all electricians are qualified in inspection and testing, and not all registered competent therefore cannot notify the work for you without submitting an application prior to work starting and that being approved and a fee paid, often a hefty fee!

 

[Norcon]

If any steam rises its undersized.
Then fit the next size cable up. Job done.

Or install a sprinkler system to keep the cable cool when running maximum (over) load current.

I think that OP would consider that suitable, must be as numnuts as Norcon, as they seem to think his post was a useful contribution !

Hmm, actually I just thought his post was funny. I didn't reply earlier cause I was at work, and also didn't want to inturrupt the little tête-à-tête that was going on.

Coincidentally our site electrician was in our office today, and I did ask him & showed him this thread. He went through everything needed, correct ampage of MCBs, size of cable 6mm, as Aragorn84 said, and agreed the shed would be a better place for the CU, again as Aragorn84 said, and explained the regs. I can also buy the SWA, external glads, CU, etc though the company account, which will save me about 20%. He also said it only needs to be tested, and a certificate issued if installed by an actual electrician, if a resident does it to their own property, it doesn't have to be. Whether I perform the install, and then get someone qualified in to check it over for safety after is always an option.

I guess at the end of the day, if this is our forever home, as long as it's safe I'm fine with it. If we were doing the house up to sell on, or to rent, I'd be more worried about the certificates & paperwork.

Way to go. Sometimes its hard to beat the real world for advice instead of being battered with regulations from some off the arze holes on here.

Guy I get electrical stuff from was an electrician so you only have to give him a brief explanation off what your doing and he fills the rest in straight off the top off his head.

Some of the inexperienced counter staff ding bats are best avoided.

 

[viewer]

Yee Gods. Jokes are fun, but at the end of the day what do you do?
Serious posters are right, but I'd suggest working from end to start;i.e. what do you want (kW) at the various points, maintenance free, easy to use and cost effective. As said you don't need a CU, but it is a really cheap and effective way for a DIYer to ensure earthing, and overcurrent protection is established. Using this logic you can size cables and allow for future use without problem. A (garage tyoe) CU in shed is again sensible as it it keeps circuits and users out of the rain. It also allows for easy use of different circuits, for example you may wish to turn off pumps during extremely cold weather but keep the lighting.