Power to garden....

SplanK

We want to get power into the shed - which is about 5m or so away - to power some outside lights and a pond pump

Just been to B&Q for a couple of things and I noticed that they do outdoor power kits for around £50 which contains a plug in RCD, cable to go through the wall to a junction box, then a armoured cable to a water proof socket housing.... looks fairly simple to put together.

What are peoples thoughts on these type of packs - should they be avoided or do they provide a cheap but safe way to get power to the outside?

lagi

Sounds pretty good to me, probably not as good as running a direct feed from your consumer unit but its made for convenience. It would be no different to plugging your lawnmower in.

I would check the ratings to see how much you could actually plug into it and if what you wanted was under that it should be fine.
I can tell you now, you won't be plugging a jacuzzi into it...

macman

All depends what you do with the armoured cable. It has to be buried at the correct depth, which is where a lot of people might be tempted to cut corners and just put it a few inches down across the flower bed...

SplanK

Yeah - I belive that the cable needs to be around 18"/450mm deep

I know outside work is usualy Part P notifiable - however im sure I read somewhere that if the cable if plugged into a plug socket inside then its not and these kits are marketed for a sensible DIY'er to do themselves....??

macman

SplanK wrote: »

Yeah - I belive that the cable needs to be around 18"/450mm deep

I know outside work is usualy Part P notifiable - however im sure I read somewhere that if the cable if plugged into a plug socket inside then its not and these kits are marketed for a sensible DIY'er to do themselves....??

And how do B&Q till staff identify the 'not sensible' DIY-ers then?

SplanK

found this here:

http://www.allotment.org.uk/greenhouse/Growlight_Garden_Power/garden-146.html

"Armadillo cable systems are complete assemblies that have been certified (to BS5733) and electrically tested at the time of manufacture. The recommended method of connection to the house supply as described in the instructions is for them to be plugged into a convenient 13A socket, either indoors or in a garage which means that it does not constitute a fixed installation. The Building Regulations do not control "portable and non-portable appliances that use flexible leads and plug connectors

However, if the Armadillo system is permanently connected to the house supply (such as through a spur unit or directly into the consumer unit) then the whole installation must be tested and certified."

So - according to that website and that bit of text... if its a plug that goes into a socket - it is deamed as "non fixed" which is not subject to building regs/Part P... however if it is hardwired into the CU or into as a spur (IE can not be easily unplugged...) then it does fall under the building reg/Part P... seems a bit of a strange loop hole there really!

SplanK

and another...
http://www.pumpsandspares.com/other-items/armouredgpsk.php

"This garden power system is designed to be plugged into a standard mains socket using the three pin plug rubber cable and plug in circuit breaker. When used in this way the kits comply with all current UK wiring regulations and can be installed without part P certification."