Commando socket in the garden?

fwor

I'm just putting together some plans to get quotes for work on my garden, and a part of that would involve fixed wiring for a pond pump and power outlet for mains powered garden tools.

I know it would be possible to ask for an appropriate IP-rated enclosure and mains socket inside, but I'm thinking perhaps a commando socket instead, as one of those would not need an enclosure.

Can anyone advise whether an external commando socket would need an interlock or not? I'd rather not have one if current regs don't require one as they are bulky, a bit fiddly to use and quite expensive too. The socket would not be attached to the outside of the house.

fwor

Nobody knows?

The reason for thinking that the situation may be different outdoors is that campsites use commando sockets for their pitches, and many do not have an interlock of any sort.

fluffpot

A commando socket in it's own is not IP rated, you need some sort of enclosure... also you'd have to change over all the plugs on your appliances.

Why not just fit one of these

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK56481.html

fwor

fluffpot wrote: »

A commando socket in it's own is not IP rated

True, though I guess it must be possible to get IP rated commando sockets, as the ones used on campsites are not in enclosures.

I must confess the Masterseal sockets would be a much more elegant looking solution. But there are a couple of commando equipped appliances that I would like to use in the garden (one being a small welder, which I prefer to use outdoors).

ic

This one is IP44: http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-commando-interlocked-angled-socket-2p-e-16a-200-250v-ip44/40962?cm_sp=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=263573

IP44 = protected from splashes from any direction. I guess on a campsite out in a field there is no expectation to be using pressure washers or hosepipes, so there is no need for protection against jets of water? In your garden this is unlikely to be the case.

This is IP67 - http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK13024BLU.html

Pricey when compared to this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/nexus-13a-2g-dp-switched-socket/67928

fwor

Thanks for the suggestions, but the question was "if I fit a commando socket in the garden, does it have to have an interlock?".

If I replace the word "garden" with "garage" then it seems the answer is "Yes" (from responses to a previous post here).

Perhaps there is no reference to such a thing in the current wiring regs?