Advice on installing outdoor plug

grumbler

MalMonroe said:

grumbler said:

dil1976 said:

Sorry but of you ar having to ask how to install it then I would advise you get a suitably to install one for you.

Really?

All people have to ask, read of both at some point, even a 'competent electrician' weren't burn 'competent'.  And adding a spur socket is a very simple job, especially if it's with a plug.

What a silly comment. Competent, registered electricians weren't born (not burn), you are right there. They have been trained for at least three years, even longer in some cases before they are allowed to undertake work.

Certainly "at least three-year training" isn't required for adding a spur socket , even hard-wired (or even an extra socket in a ring).

Money_Grabber13579

Section62 said:

Money_Grabber13579 said:

By the looks of it, the connector is probably about 1.5cm in diameter, so I could probably get away with drilling a 2cm hole, passing that through and then filling up any gaps. I’ll need to check whether the wall is double or single skin but if it’s double, not losing the end into the cavity might be the most tricky aspect!

No question about it then. Drill a 20mm hole through the wall, feed the cable through, keep all the mains stuff inside the garage.

The easy way to feed 'flex' through a thicker wall is to feed a piece of string through using a suitable stick, then attach the string to the cable with several turns of insulation tape - in this case aiming to make sure the connector is also protected from damage as it is pulled through the bricks.

Also, leave a downward pointing 'loop' in the cable on the outside just before it passes into the wall, so any water running along/down it will drip off outside rather than having water running into the wall.

Many thanks, that sounds like a good plan.

I think I’ll leave it there and not get drawn into the wider debate that is going on about who is safe and competent at to be carrying out electrical but before I do (and as grumbler says), my plan was only ever to create a semi permanent extension lead, passed through a hole in the garage wall. I was never planning on spurring anything because I know when something is beyond my capabilities.

Alanp

You could just buy a weatherproof box, Screwfix sell one with everything 

Mutton_Geoff

You can do anything you like with any kind of electrical cable/fitting so long as it has a plug on the end of it, it would be regarded as an extension lead.

Don't use twin and earth outside without it being in a conduit as it will perish in sunlight. On the inside of your garage, run the twin and earth into a wall mounted junction box and come out of that with flex with plug on end and plug that into an existing socket and you're done.

Section62

Mutton_Geoff said:

You can do anything you like with any kind of electrical cable/fitting so long as it has a plug on the end of it, it would be regarded as an extension lead.

Pretty sure that isn't true.

Or are you really suggesting my new ring main would be an "extension lead" provided I connect it to the supply via one of these...?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/abb-32a-2p-e-connector-250v/6803x

There are regulations that apply to anything connected to the mains electricity supply - the law doesnt stop at the plug/socket.

Mutton_Geoff said:

On the inside of your garage, run the twin and earth into a wall mounted junction box and come out of that with flex with plug on end and plug that into an existing socket and you're done.

But why go to the trouble and expense of bodging it with flex and a plug?

The OP's requirements can be met by simply feeding the LV cable through the wall and having the transformer and all mains connections inside the garage.  In this case that's by far the simplest and safest way of doing it.

Andy_L

dil1976 said:

grumbler said:

dil1976 said:

grumbler said:

dil1976 said:

Sorry but of you ar having to ask how to install it then I would advise you get a suitably to install one for you.

Really?

All people have to ask, read of both at some point, even a 'competent electrician' weren't burn 'competent'.  And adding a spur socket is a very simple job, especially if it's with a plug.

Really? So I take it that everyone has access to the correct test equipment and the knowledge to fill out a test certificate correctly and able to identify that that the circuit they are spurring from is suitable?

The OP's plan was just to make a RCD-protected DIY extension lead going through a hole in a wall instead of a door/window. Does a DIY extension lead require a certificate?

I can be wrong, but I don't think that a CERTIFICATE is required nowadays for a new socket. AFAIK, notification is required only for some special locations that don't include an outdoor socket.

And what is 'suitable circuite'? For and outdoor socket, AFAIK, It has to be RCD-protected and not an unfused spur. What else?

All electrical installation work requires a test certificate to show it complies with BS7671 or the PAT Code of Practice. Notification I am not sure of it does or not but that isnt really a big issue even if it does require it but that's another conversation. If being hard wired into a existing socket how with out knowledge or relevant test equipment can you tell if it safe to do so as that may already be a spur in which case further works needs carrying out or you may overload the cable. 

An extra socket like this work is modification not installation so only needs a test cert if its in a special location (eg bathroom or sauna)

ic

External sockets that accept transformers are available: https://www.toolstation.com/bg-ip66-single-13a-socket-with-large-enclosure/p33435

Ectophile

There are regulations that apply to anything connected to the mains electricity supply - the law doesnt stop at the plug/socket.

There aren't really any regulations that apply to portable things, including extension leads, unless you want to sell them.  Or allow people to use them as part of your business (when H&S rules would apply).  There's nothing to stop a householder buying a plug, a socket, and a bit of wire, and making their own extension lead.

But that doesn't mean you can stick a 32A plug on your ring main and call it an extension lead.  If it's permanently fixed to the building, then building regulations apply.

Money_Grabber13579

I'm back again for more advice!

I'm still planning on passing the low voltage cable for the lights through the garage wall (thus keeping the plug and transformer inside the garage).  However, I've now changed my plans outside slightly.  My original plan was to run the low voltage cable along a fence and then along the length of a flowerbed.  However, I was slightly concerned about slicing through the cable when maintaining the flowerbed and so I'm now planning to run it under the lawn instead.  The lawn consists of heavy clay soil and is liable to get water logged, so I'd like to waterproof all of the connections (which will be underground).

This is the cable and connector type which I will be using, so I was thinking of buying some kind of waterproof box which could be placed underground and run the cables into the box via some kind of grommet.  The connector would then be wholly inside the waterproof box and thus, hopefully fully protected (I know the cable and connector is supposed to be IP67 rated but given the heavy clay nature of the soil, I'm a little concerned that flooding of the soil might overcome this).

Emmia

Can I ask, would solar powered lights be suitable for your needs? This seems like an overly complicated arrangement overall, and you could position them where you like.

Personally, if you want mains electricity I'd get a proper outdoor plug socket fitted, rather than these bodges with cables under lawns, flowerbeds etc.