Running Electrics From House To Outside Workshop

[tandh]

hiya, i want to connect up a light and a few power sockets in my workshop. I will need cable that's about 12 meters long, that will run along my garden from my house. Does any one know what type of cable i need, and what's involved to do it (i'm not planing on doing it myself, but i find i can get better quotes if i know more about the job and already have the parts needed)

[Togo]

tandh, advising on electricity supplies to your workshop is not really something that we diyers should be doing. Without knowing the machines and tools you intend to run and indeed the supply you already have is not something for someone who is not up to date qualified. If you are using lathes or drills etc. you may even require twin phase supply with a separate fuse box and isolation. I would post a brief resume of what is to be powered in your workshop and wait for Sparky or Builder to point you in the right direction.

[tandh]

:-( i didn't realise it's that complicated. It's not even going to be me that's using it as i'm planing to sell soon. hopefully your right and one of those two could help me... maybe i should just get a few quotes and see what they say

[Togo]

All that I can say tan, is that if it is just a general domestic type supply that is required for hand tools etc. with no extractor fans and heavy machinery, you should just ensure that any supply is on it's own discrete ring main with separate fuse or rcb and that the lights are from a proper and separate supply from the ring main for the workshop.

[tandh]

thank you, i think what you've described here is going to be what i need. I'm not going to be installing any built in equipment, just want them to have the option to plug in a hand saw, lawn mower ect

[Gizmonster]

We had something very similar done ourselves.
When we moved into our house, there was no power in the garage. I got a friend in (proper electrician) and he run a cable from the house to the garage, to provide a socket in the garage, a socket for the garden and a light for the garage.
The cable was run underground - you'll need "armoured cable" - there will prob be lots of different specs, so better to get someone who knows what they're doing.
There's a separate circuit breaker in the garage and some kind of switch/junction box inside the house, where the armoured cable starts off.

[tandh]

arrr, gizzmonster, i think that's whats needed. I will talk to a professional about it, but at least i have some clue about it. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it?

[Gizmonster]

It was a while ago, so I honestly can't remember - but even if I could, it wouldn't help, 'cos we had other jobs done in the house - new consumer unit, plus extra plug sockets in a few rooms .... sorry :(

[tandh]

not to worry, i think throwing in the word armoured cable will help me not look like i was born yesterday

[Togo]

Just a thought tandh the Welsh word for fire is tan. (^_*)

[tandh]

oh my days! that's so random 1 becasue i am half welsh and 2 because my friend thinks i look like the mother of dragons from GOT (apart from i have dark brown hair) i just brought a "Khaleesi" wig to see how similar i look to her!

[Togo]

Lol just change you name on AB to Daenerys and never let a post drag on.(^_*)

[Togo]

You look like Daenerys? Wow. The sparkies will do the job for nothing.

[New Judge]

"...you may even require twin phase supply with a separate fuse box and isolation."

I expect you mean 3-phase supply, Togo. It is very unlikely that anybody would need 440v 3-Phase ac supply (the standard "industrial" supply in the UK) for any domestic application.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

For a 20A supply you will need a minimum 2.5mm 3 core steel wire armoured cable installed below ground if poss..fed via a 20A RCBO or a RCD/MCB.This will protect the supply to the shed.Inside the shed you may need a small distribution board or to make it simple you could fit the sockets and a fused switched spur with a 5A fuse in for the lights..(or even wire the lights in flex ..fit a 3 pin plug and plug it into a socket.The job can only be done if the earth bonding in the house is up to regs and in most cases the distribution board needs to be compliant.The install must be certified and notified to local building control.

[Togo]

Now copy and paste, then print that Daenerys, when you speak to your electrician you have some knowledge. And say thank you to Sparky and give him a Best Answer. Hi Sparks hope you are good.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Hi Togs...up the Potters :-)

[tandh]

arrr! thanks sparks, didn't know i had to report to building regs either, now to just spend two hours memorising that so i can sound like i know what i am talking about lol
lmao togo, your so funny. Its funny, i never saw it in myself until he pointed it out, when i get time i'll take a photo of me in the wig and upload it as my avatar and change my username. and no..... i find people want to charge me more as they think i don't have a clue about anything :-(