Electricity in outbuildings

mittel

Hello,
I would be grateful for some advice.

I have recently moved into a property which has two detached outbuildings, one used as a garage and the other as a workshop, no heavy machinery just the run of the mill drills and saw.

The outbuildings are connected to the house in this manner;

From main ConsumerUnit, 80A / 30mA RCD via a 32A MCB to the Garage Consumer Unit,63A / 30mA RCD via a 32A MCB to the Workshop Consumer Unit, 40A / 30mA RCD.

What I would like to know is does this meet the existing requirements or is it an overkill?

I am not after technical details as I intend to contact a local electrician. What I will be grateful for is some information, if this set up does not meet standards, so that I can have an idea for when I get the quotes.

Kindregards

fluffpot

Well it sounds like the circuit breaker sizes are in the 'wrong' order (also know as discrimination) and it's difficult to say without seeing the job and the cable sizes and types if they are the correct size.

However you do have RCD protection which is a good start. I think it's best to get an electrician to take a look really as she/he will be able to see what we can't

Good luck

mittel

fluffpot wrote: »

Well it sounds like the circuit breaker sizes are in the 'wrong' order (also know as discrimination) and it's difficult to say without seeing the job and the cable sizes and types if they are the correct size.

However you do have RCD protection which is a good start. I think it's best to get an electrician to take a look really as she/he will be able to see what we can't

Good luck

Many thanks, please what exactly do you mean in the ´wrong order´? I have been phoning electricians this morning with a view of having the electricty system inspected but would like to have an idea before I am baffled with science and made to rewire the whole house. Hence the reason for this post.

securityman

Has SWA cable been used?

Ectophile

mittel wrote: »

Many thanks, please what exactly do you mean in the ´wrong order´? I have been phoning electricians this morning with a view of having the electricty system inspected but would like to have an idea before I am baffled with science and made to rewire the whole house. Hence the reason for this post.

I only saw two circuit breakers in your original post - both 32A.

So it looks like the workshop is protected by 2 off 32A breakers and 3 off 30mA RCDs.

If so, then there's no "discrimination" in this system. If there's a fault, it's anyone's guess which breaker or RCD will trip. This isn't ideal, but it isn't necessarily unsafe.

mittel

securityman wrote: »

Has SWA cable been used?

No, it´s 10mm T&E, running through very tough plastic tubing which in turn is fixed to the walls

mittel

Ectophile wrote: »

I only saw two circuit breakers in your original post - both 32A.

So it looks like the workshop is protected by 2 off 32A breakers and 3 off 30mA RCDs.

If so, then there's no "discrimination" in this system. If there's a fault, it's anyone's guess which breaker or RCD will trip. This isn't ideal, but it isn't necessarily unsafe.

Yes I can see it that way , that is my concern. I would have thought it would be better if in case of a fault either in the garage or the workshop, the house will not trip.

securityman

mittel wrote: »

No, it´s 10mm T&E, running through very tough plastic tubing which in turn is fixed to the walls

Great, better than some that just stick some T&E in the flower beds.