Running power to shed

Eldi_Dos

FreeBear said:

mexican_dave said: I am not sure the Electric Regs allow you to bury a plastic conduit to carry an electric cable, reckon it has to be "armoured cable".

. OK, one should not run data & power in close proximity if it can be avoided...

That is a good policy but in situations where it cannot be avoided a screening cable can be run alongside.This is normally quite a thick cable with a low resistance and a very thin sheath with not very good insulation qualities.This is connected to earth rods at periodic  points along the route and is designed to reduce induced voltage interfering with the telecomm signal.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

mexican_dave said:

Sockets and switches in the workshop could be simple "metalclad" from any of the big brands: MK, Volex; Crabtree, etc.
I am not sure the Electric Regs allow you to bury a plastic conduit to carry an electric cable, reckon it has to be "armoured cable". Can any Forumite assist with that? As this is a substantial workshop, and the electrics will be on a "spur" from the house, I would go for 6mm (sq mm) conductors in the cable as this would enable more than one 13amp socket ( that's all you could rightly expect from a single 2.5 T&E).

I don't know that much about electrics but know enough not to run a normal cable I'd seen the armoured cable on Screwfix but wondered if there were different types depending upon how they are installed. 

Section62 said:

If you are anticipating a load which would require 6mm cable then it shouldn't be wired as a "spur".

It should be installed as a separate radial circuit from the consumer unit.

As FreeBear suggests, SWA should be used underground (and also where the cable may be vulnerable to physical damage).  As far as I know there is nothing in the wiring regulations that prohibits the use of SWA in a non-conductive ducting. But the OP's electrician should be asked to confirm what is appropriate.

Yes it'll be wired directly to the fuse board, I wouldn't run it as a spur off another plug, whist that is no doubt unsafe it would also be a lot more involved, getting a cable to our fuse board is much easier than getting it to a plug socket. 

FreeBear said:

Yes, it needs to be armoured cable - Putting it in conduit underground provides a little bit more protection. But the main reason for doing so, is it is much easier to replace/upgrade should the need arise. And if the OP finds that there is a need for CAT5/6 or telephone out in the workshop, conduit is already in place. OK, one should not run data & power in close proximity if it can be avoided...

Eldi_Dos said:

That is a good policy but in situations where it cannot be avoided a screening cable can be run alongside.This is normally quite a thick cable with a low resistance and a very thin sheath with not very good insulation qualities.This is connected to earth rods at periodic  points along the route and is designed to reduce induced voltage interfering with the telecomm signal.

 We're thinking of getting rid of the landline and my wife wouldn't be impressed if I started sitting at a computer in the shed! so I don't think there will be any data or telephone wires going in at a later date but the conduit makes perfect sense for upgrading capacity in the future. 

FreeBear

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said: and my wife wouldn't be impressed if I started sitting at a computer in the shed! so I don't think there will be any data or telephone wires going in at a later date but the conduit makes perfect sense for upgrading capacity in the future. 

Computer Aided Design, Computer Numerical Control - Both essential in the modern workshop

But CNC (and 3D printing) may not be a rabbit hole you want to go down. If you do, having an internet connection out in the shed is invaluable.

Ectophile

There is an alternative to armoured cable - lay ducting and then run the cables in that.  If you remember to add a draw cord, you could pull in additional cables later on.

But it's got to be the proper ducting for laying cables, not some random piece of plumbing pipe.

And make sure that the cable is suitable for damp conditions, as the duct is unlikely to be 100% waterproof.