Installing outdoor electric point- help

DevCoder

muckybutt wrote: »

:eek::eek: hmmm yes well errm dont take his advice !

For an outdoor socket you will need an approved part p registered electrician, as outdoor sockets fall under part p regulations not every tom !!!!!! or harry can install them.

Ideally yes you need a cable digging into the ground from your fuse box to the aviary and either a outdoor socket put in there or a small consumer unit so you can have heating lighting and a powerpoint in there.

Price will vary depending upon what you want and how long the cable will have to be run in.

That is quite scary advice (not from you, the workman)

Surprised he didn't recommend fixing it to a fence along the way.

Obviously didn't even consider voltage drop (well he didnt consider mechanical protection or any of the other simpler considerations so voltage drop is probably unknown to him)

Gloomendoom

You don't necessarily need Part P approval to fit an outside socket. It depends on how you do it.



http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p27175

Is voltage drop likely to be a problem over 16 feet at 240V? Assuming a load 3.1KW max and assuming my calcs are correct, it is likely to amount to less than 3 volts.

waynehayes

Calculations should be based on 230v ac, and also take into consideration the cross sectional area of the cable used (along with the number of cores in the cable), but generally, you would expect that this circuit would avoid the 5% voltage drop limit.

DevCoder

I agree that v.d would not be an issue in this case but given the tradesman suggested stringing an extension cable when needed I was just highlighting that v.d probably didnt even enter his head, nor did protection (both mechanical and from UV), proper means of cable run including identification and potential exporting of earth if he did consider an SWA run to a sub dist board.

chiefgoobster

Hi

I'm not an electrician and don't quote me on the exact specs of this cable....but you could be looking at something as reasonable as this for your needs ;

http://www.screwfix.com/p/prysmian-lv-armoured-3-core-black-2-5mm-25m-cable-reel/38769

pinkcandyflossprincess

thankyou..some usefull information there. its at times like this i wish i had one of those old fashioned dads who seem to be skilled in everything. my friends dad is one of those men who can come and do a garden makeover in a day but when i asked her if i could borrow him she didnt seem happy:o
the planning thing seems a bit pants, I hope its not needed. I may see if i can get someone round to give me a quote to see what the whole thing is going to involve.
Im wondering if the aviary man was qualified as his set up is amazing and as its for an aviary he would know what exactly is needed, ie the inner tublar heating etc. the heating part isnt really expensive, its just the whole inital getting the electrics out there and then getting someone to do that part for me. I can manage to change a lightbulb but thats it:o