Advice needed - installing electric outside?

ally18

Hi,

Please could you advise on the following.

I have been very fortunate to have been given an inflatable hot tub which runs from a 13amp plug. I don't have any outside electrics though at present. What I do have is an outside light connected to a switch in the kitchen which is never really used anymore.

Would this be a job I could do myself by connecting new wiring to the existing switch and just buying an outside socket to attach it to or should I get an electrician in to do it?

Many thanks.

jc808

presuming the outside light is a fixed appliance running off the 13a circuit, yes

if its running off the lighting circuit - no. (you can connect certain items to lighting circuits but i believe theyre only appliances like fire alarms, extractor fans etc)

McKneff

If you had to ask a question like that, then I would get an electrician to sort your socket out for you.

dil1976

I would get a electrician in to look at the installation. The socket would need to be RCD protected which the existing installation may not be able to provide.

BertieUK

The Regulations that govern household electrics these days are so complicated, to even a good DIYer to understand fully. The rules have change in the interest of safety, so may I suggest that you call in a qualified electrician to check your requirements and take it from there.

In the long run it is far safer and cheaper to get the job done right.

Regards

BobUK

SailorSam

I don't know but i would have thought something like a hot tub would be similar to fitting a cooker or shower and need it's own separate fuse. I'd get professional advice

ally18

Thank you all for your replies.

The light is on the appliance circuit.

On the basis of the replies, I am going to look at getting a quote from an electrician but at least I have asked. I always try to do things myself if at all possible.

Thanks again.

McKneff

I always leave Gas and Electric to the experts.

After all, they are potential killers (the G & E that is, not the experts):D

ally18

Hello all,

I thought I would just give a quick update for info.

Well, I got two quotes from electricians, one for £174 and the other £170. This was to provide a single 13amp outdoor socket using the existing lighting switch connection and running 1.5mm armoured steel cable along my fence to the bottom of the garden. I was told by one electrician that it would be a 3hr job! Hmm?

The materials would cost £70 and the rest was labour and VAT. As I thought this was excessive, I went to the local DIY shop and got advice from the instore electrician who guided me to a diy outdoor installation package which I could do myself so I bought it at a cost of £92. This included 25 mts of cable though which I didn't really need but the next size length would have been a little short.

So, Sunday was spent installing the power socket with lots of swearing etc because I couldn't get the cable through the wall properly as it kept wanting to go down the air gap between the bricks :rotfl:but on the last go, it worked (after abt an hour trying). The cable is fixed to the fence, buried in the ground etc and is working brilliantly.

I'm so chuffed I managed to do it myself, its legal and safe and I saved £79. Its not the best looking job in the world but it was very mse to me. :T

Ally

ps its not connected to the switch I mentioned. Its a separate RCD protected plug which just plugs straight into a socket in the kitchen.

prowla

I wouldn't run a socket off a lighting circuit. (Depending upon the house, the lights may not even be earthed!)

An external socket should of course be weatherproof and RCD protected.

madjay

Power circuits should not be run 1.5mm cable nor should you install a socket outlet off the lighting circuit. If you are not qualified do not play about with electrics