Wiring to an outdoor socket - must it be enclosed?

[RigidRaider]

We demolished an old 1930s garage, which had power running under the garden from a fused spur in the house. The cable emerges from the house wall under a step so it's normally hidden, it goes into a plastic plumbing pipe, which takes it under the patio. As the cable is exposed where it enters the pipe I plan to pull it out, shorten it and re-route it about 18" across and up into an outdoor socket for the lawnmower.

Must it be trunked up to the socket?

How waterproof are these grey plastic outdoor sockets? It will be in a very exposed location, where it will receive driving westerlies.

 

[Chri5]

Depends on the cable type. If the cable is swa, high tuff or a proper external grade then protection ( uv, weather and mechanical) is built in.

As for external ip graded sockets they are good, but not always great. Most have covers, and some do forget to close it after use.

I'd suggest you go for ip66 products over ip55,

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...ccessories_Index/MK_MastersealPlus/index.html

 

[ericmark]

I have looked at the sockets on my sons marina and was surprised they didn't have problems as very exposed with no real protection. I have always tried to make a shelter for the sockets so dried by wind but non driven rain will not wet them.

Weak point is often the fixing screws both warping the fitting and allowing water in from back. Except were likely to flood I like to see drain holes although these can allow spiders in.

But in general a IP56 or better socket will not really have a problem. But I always have some means to isolate should it go wrong. Which includes the neutral.

 

[Chri5]

And run a seem of low mod mastic around the socket base post fitting, as Eric mentioned the weak point can be the fixing holes at the rear.

 

[Albert]

I hope that there is a RCD protection somewhere...

 

[kai]

The MK Masterseals are good in this respect, the fixing holes are outside the "sealed zone", so once fully assembled, the rear fixing screws do not affect the watertightness - the front fixing screws are also outside the "sealed zone" to avoid water ingress risks via the screws.