Weatherproof socket under decking

[EllieP]

Morning all,
We recently had new decking laid, and as part of the process an electrician (supplied by the landscapers) wired us a weatherproof socket under the decking to take the water feature and decking lights (both on low voltage transformers, IP44 I think...)
My concern is the pacement of the socket - it is all wired in armoured cable routed under the decking and patio and then through the garage wall, fully water protected, and runs from a fused spur thing in the garage. However, the socket box itself is just lying loose on the earth beneath the decking, not fixed to anything. Is that OK or am I likely to run into a problem? BTW, the whole house is RCD protected.
Ta all.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My concern is the pacement of the socket - it is all wired in armoured cable routed under the decking and patio and then through the garage wall, fully water protected, and runs from a fused spur thing in the garage. However, the socket box itself is just lying loose on the earth beneath the decking, not fixed to anything. Is that OK or am I likely to run into a problem? BTW, the whole house is RCD protected.

I would expect it fixed to something, just to raise it up from the damp ground. Even just a timber post hammered into the ground, would be enough to achieve that.

 

[EllieP]

Thank you Harry. I don't think there's enough clearance under the decking to mount it upright... Would lying the box on its back on timber or something be OK?

 

[jj4091]

A piece of plastic or some other waterproof material that won't rot would be better.

 

[EllieP]

Perfect - thanks jj4091. We've got some leftover composite decking so I'll try to get a couple of layers under the box.

 

[morqthana]

How do you access it to plug things in?

 

[big-all]

my thoughts
assuming the socket is waterproof [i assume it is]
you need to work out iff mounting it other than correct way up and correct orientation will effect the possibility off water ingress
but as said above raising off the earth/ground at minimum by preferably 12mm minimum to avoid water ingress from below is the minimum i would suggest is required assuming no standing water is normally seen

 

[EllieP]

How do you access it to plug things in?

One of the short decking planks is easily removable, and once it's all up and running there's little need to go back to the socket. I'll also silicone seal the lid etc (not that I'm paranoid!)
There's no standing water (OK, maybe a little) but I should be able to raise the socket (IP66 I think) 20-25mm off the earth.

 

[Murdochcat]

How do you access it to plug things in?

One of the short decking planks is easily removable, and once it's all up and running there's little need to go back to the socket. I'll also silicone seal the lid etc (not that I'm paranoid!)
There's no standing water (OK, maybe a little) but I should be able to raise the socket (IP66 I think) 20-25mm off the earth.

Definitely raise it off the ground.

 

[morqthana]

Wouldn't it have made more sense to not have a socket and wire things back to the garage, or have the socket there?

 

[JohnD]

20-25mm off the earth.

25mm is an inch, which is not much.

How are the cable entries into the backbox sealed? Do they enter from above or below?

 

[EllieP]

I've managed to lift it a couple of inches, sitting on waterproof boards and sloping down towards the outlet cables. Feed cable entry id via a sealed gland, and I've added further selant all around the box.
Wiring back to the garage is unfortunately not an option now due to some very expensive patio slabs being in the way!
Thanks all for your comments and help - lights are now wired in and working.