Outdoor socket advice

[lanham]

I have one of these http://www.screwfix.com/p/bg-nexus-13a-2g-dp-switched-socket/67928 and was going to use 2.5 T&E cable. The cable will be coming out through a wall and I intend to use the bottom entry point. My question(s) are: Is it better to use T&E or normal round 13A cable? Should I use a plastic cable gland or would one of these do? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301227948423?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT which I already have. The cable will be coming out of the wall and going straight into the socket.

P.S. The instruction say that if using the top or sides knockouts to drill a drain hole in the bottom but if using the bottom entry NOT to drill a drain hole. This doesn't make sense to me. I would have thought a drain hole was essential.

Thanks

Brian

 

[EFLImpudence]

2.5mm² will be fine.
Can you not enter straight into the back and seal? Use outdoor black flex if visible and exposed.
Gland or grommet is up to you.

I presume their thinking is that if it is bottom entry then no water will enter - so drill drain hole or keep an eye on it.

 

[lanham]

Thank you for that. Yes, I can enter from the back and seal, probably the best way.

Cheers

Brian

 

[Taylortwocities]

I can enter from the back and seal, probably the best way.

It is what everybody else does. there's no point having a cable exposed to elements if you do not have to.
Use 2.5mm² cable and seal the entry hole to the box with a ring of silicone.
Drain hole in bottom of box.

Where did you plan to connect the other end of the 2.5mm² cable, by the way?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

there's no point having a cable exposed to elements if you do not have to.

OTOH, a round cable which won't be harmed by exposure and which goes in to the bottom via a proper gland, is easier to get watertight than gobs of silicone round a rear entry.

 

[lanham]

I haven't decided where to get the power from yet. Thanks to everyone it's been a great help.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Ok. But remember that the socket must be RCD protected. You'll need to decide if the supply is RCD protected or you will need an RCD socket.

 

[lanham]

My consumer unit is RCD protected is that OK? I intend running a lawnmower which will be used with a plug in RCD and an outside security light.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You're going to have a fixed light permanently plugged into a socket?

 

[lanham]

Yes, that's the plan anyway.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Yuk. How tacky.

 

[lanham]

Tacky? why?

 

[Taylortwocities]

For starters
Visible cable dangling up the wall connecting to the fixed light.

 

[lanham]

OK, and for seconds?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well, if that isn't bad enough, it's not how it's supposed to be done.

Do you have any lights in your house which are wired up like that?

It's the way it's done by people who either cannot or will not do it properly.

Yuk. How tacky.