Armoured Cable

ihatebananas

Hi All,

Just need some advice on armoured cable, what size and depth to bury it??

I have just put 15 ton of topsoil on my back garden in prep for grass seed and put a slab base for a new shed which I want a couple of sockets and some lighting for it.

I have no intentions of electrocuting :eek:myself but I want to save money and put the armoured cable down myself leaving a roll either end ready for the electrician. I will probably need about 25-30 metres.

Many thanks

Myser

If it is going to be subject to possible digging with a spade etc. in the future, a depth of 700mm or greater is recommended:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.13.3.htm

Rockingit

Whilst I have no issues at all with you sourcing and trenching your own cable, have you consulted with a qualified electrician first to make sure you're installing the right stuff and the cable calculations have all been done?

AND...new circuits in a garden come under Part P AND....if you've never been taught to gland off the the cable properly then please don't try - get someone in to do it!

Rockingit

Myser wrote: »

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.13.3.htm

In my experience http://www.electric-cable.com/ are cheaper if you're buying that sort of length

Myser

Myser wrote: »

If it is going to be subject to possible digging with a spade etc. in the future, a depth of 700mm or greater is recommended:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.13.3.htm

The link was just provided for information on how deep to dig the trench!

ihatebananas

Many thanks for replies.

I was hoping one of you bright things would be able to calculate the size for me and I do only intend to dig the trench not pop any glands on, just roll each end up and cover securely until my electrician can get!

I did try and phone him today but no answer

Rockingit

Eek - not quite as simple as it sounds!! Firstly, do you know what type of earthing you have? Second, what loading do you expect to apply and how much of that is lighting? Third, what form of Circuit Protective Device do you intend to use, and fourthly - how/where are you proposing to have your 30mA RCD protection - up or down stream?

no1catman

I had a problem with armoured cable yesterday. It isn't buried though - goes from a outside wall 'powersafe' to the pond. I happened to be trimming some irises that were in the way for fence coating, and I snipped clean through the cable - it was on at the time to !!
A few sparks. Off to the nearest Pond specialist - for plug & socket connector, wired it up, reset the RCD and put it on - no luck.
Electrician the next day - only problem little fuse blown on the 'powersafe'.
At least now fish have their waterfall!

vaio

steel wired armour?

if so I'm impressed. Whet were you using to trim the irises? a chain saw?

Myser

no1catman wrote: »

A few sparks. Off to the nearest Pond specialist - for plug & socket connector, ...

Hope it's suitably IP rated and you have sealed it properly to prevent water ingress?

I agree with 'vaio' though, how did you snip! through an armoured cable :huh:.

keystone

Lol you two know full well it was TC&E or even flex inappropriately installed and not compliant with regs by any stretch of the imagination. An object lesson if ever there was one.

Cheers