I'm looking to get a simple power supply into my shed. I live in Scotland so Part P doesn't apply (at the moment). However I'm not completely mad so I've enlisted the help of a qualified and competent electrician who lives near to me. He'll be doing most of the work and inspecting the installation. I've been tasked with gathering together the necessary bits and pieces to do this and, while I'm at it, I've been trying to learn more about domestic wiring installations because it's interesting and so that I don't look like a complete gimp when we actually get round to doing the work!
The idea so far is to take a spur off the existing ring main, run a new armoured 2.5mm twin and earth cable through the external wall of the house, bury it and properly sheath it for the very short distance between side wall of house and shed (approx 60cm) and then run it through the wall of the (wooden) shed and into a new garage consumer unit.
I have bought a Volex garage unit with RCD protection and two MCBs - one rated at 16amp to supply three 13amp wall sockets and the other rated at 6amp to supply three linked 60watt incansescent lamp fittings (linked together) with a two-way switch arrangement.
The power sockets will be used for a tumble dryer, a small freezer and one for general use with light power tools, strimmer etc.
We're planning on using 1.5mm twin and earth for the power socket circuit and 1.0mm twin and earth for the lighting circuit with 1.00mm three core and earth between the two-way switches (via a single junction box).
Question 1 - Do you think that a 16 amp MCB is sufficient to protect this circuit?
Question 2 - Should the power socket circuit be a new ring (connecting back into the garage consumer unit) or a radial circuit (terminating at the last socket)? - The installation instructions with the Volex are very poor, but my preference would be for the new ring.
I'm new to this but I'm enjoying trying to learn about the basics. I will NOT be attempting any of this work myself!
I know this is a very 'old chestnut' but any help or constructive comments would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.
The idea so far is to take a spur off the existing ring main, run a new armoured 2.5mm twin and earth cable through the external wall of the house, bury it and properly sheath it for the very short distance between side wall of house and shed (approx 60cm) and then run it through the wall of the (wooden) shed and into a new garage consumer unit.
I have bought a Volex garage unit with RCD protection and two MCBs - one rated at 16amp to supply three 13amp wall sockets and the other rated at 6amp to supply three linked 60watt incansescent lamp fittings (linked together) with a two-way switch arrangement.
The power sockets will be used for a tumble dryer, a small freezer and one for general use with light power tools, strimmer etc.
We're planning on using 1.5mm twin and earth for the power socket circuit and 1.0mm twin and earth for the lighting circuit with 1.00mm three core and earth between the two-way switches (via a single junction box).
Question 1 - Do you think that a 16 amp MCB is sufficient to protect this circuit?
Question 2 - Should the power socket circuit be a new ring (connecting back into the garage consumer unit) or a radial circuit (terminating at the last socket)? - The installation instructions with the Volex are very poor, but my preference would be for the new ring.
I'm new to this but I'm enjoying trying to learn about the basics. I will NOT be attempting any of this work myself!
I know this is a very 'old chestnut' but any help or constructive comments would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.