My outdoor socket plan

ChilliBob

I had an outdoor socket at my last place,this was fixed to the wall and the cable pushed through an air brick, up through the floor and plugged into a conventional wall plug. 

This was pretty easy and worked well, I'm now at a new property and considering doing the same thing. Looking into choosing the right cable has made me question if my way of doing this is fully sage or not. It worked 100% fine in our last place, used multiple times a week for probably a couple of years!

Exactly what I intend to do:
* Wire 13 amp plug to some flex
* Poke flex outside through the wall
* Wire up external IP rated socket
* Attach to the wall, and seal around the box and inside the box with CT1 sealant (which even works underwater!)
* Lastly, plug in inside.

Seems golden to me! 

Belenus

Is this for charging your car as per your other thread?

I am uncertain of the current regulations but I think that ideally you should hard wire it as a spur to an existing interior socket rather than use a plug. Don't spur off a socket that is already a spur. 

If you are concerned about others using the socket without your permission, then fit a switch internally.

Andy_L

I'd suggest sticking an RCD in their somewhere if the ring main doesn't have one already

Do you need to bother sealing inside the box if its already IP rated?

ChilliBob

I guess I just wanted to seal in there whilst I was already there with a mastic gun! I did it last time and had read about it somewhere. 

https://www.toolstation.com/bg-ip66-outdoor-power-kit/p27175#full-desc

Looks like a decent idea, incorporating RCD as you say. Also avoids wiring at both ends too (lazy I know!) 

Phantom151

*Gets popcorn and waits...*

ChilliBob

Phantom151 said:

*Gets popcorn and waits...*

I don't think seeing a bloke push a cable through a hole and attach something to a wall will be that exciting! But hey, different strokes for different folks! 

donemedosh

My outside sockets are wired direct from the consumer unit on a seperate rcd. The good thing is you can upgrade the rcd to d type which allows you to use power tools with high amp startup (table saw) without tripping the rcd. But if it does trip then it doesn't effect the house. Worth thinking about.

bob_a_builder

You wouldn't be the 1st .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fojd6bmNYEo

ChilliBob

Thanks, that's actually a really interesting video. Most of what I did before was fine in principal, this time round I should be able to improve upon it. 

bris

The law states outside sockets must be RCD protected so it's not a choice you get to make.

Bendy_House

That's a really good video! Great detail, clearly explained, and to the point - kudos to the guy.

I presume RCD protection can be provided by an RCD main switch, or an individual RCBO in the CU serving that power circuit, or even a simple plug-in device at that double socket?