Outdoor junction box for armoured cable

Lolopopo · Jun 20, 2017

Hello all,

Got a bit of a situation with my new garage, I've got a 2.5mm cable coming out of the house consumer unit for supplying mains to the garage, there is an armoured cable inside a conduit that goes underground and comes out in the garage. Inside the garage, it goes into its own consumer unit and the rest is good.

The problem I have is the junction outside the house where the 2.5mm meets the armoured cable, I can't find any glands or outdoor rated junction boxes to suit an armoured cable and 2.5mm.

This is how it looks at the moment, not ideal but stays dry with the lid on and I keep the supply off when not in use. It's a random metal box, not suited for this purpose, it has holes in it and doesn't have any ingress ratings.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Outdoor junction box for armoured cable

Please can someone recommend a junction box to suit both the armoured cable and 2.5mm or similar solution? Thanks!

stidge · Jun 20, 2017

Lolopopo said:
Hello all,

Got a bit of a situation with my new garage, I've got a 2.5mm cable coming out of the house consumer unit for supplying mains to the garage, there is an armoured cable inside a conduit that goes underground and comes out in the garage. Inside the garage, it goes into its own consumer unit and the rest is good.

The problem I have is the junction outside the house where the 2.5mm meets the armoured cable, I can't find any glands or outdoor rated junction boxes to suit an armoured cable and 2.5mm.

This is how it looks at the moment, not ideal but stays dry with the lid on and I keep the supply off when not in use. It's a random metal box, not suited for this purpose, it has holes in it and doesn't have any ingress ratings.

View attachment 36922

Please can someone recommend a junction box to suit both the armoured cable and 2.5mm or similar solution? Thanks!

Just use a normal IP65 plastic adapt box and drill your 20mm holes to suit and fasten gland or copex with nut !!!!!!!

LankyWill · Jun 20, 2017

Is it always strewn across the floor like that? looks like a rough job if im honest, poor cable management using an armoured gland for t&e is a no no. Id suggest your employ a registered electrician to rectify that abortion.

Octopus · Jun 20, 2017

Best get a spark in to do this... then the SWA will get glanded properly too

telectrix · Jun 20, 2017

IP65 adaptable box screwed to wall. any wholesaler will have them. if plastic you'll need banjos or pirhanna nuts and a fly lead to maintain the cpc.

Andy78 · Jun 20, 2017

I think the best thing would be to get a reputable electrician in to sort that mess out for you.

LankyWill · Jun 20, 2017

It's a massive jb and there's still copper on show. Both glands are loose, the more I look the worse I feel.

DavidSpark · Jun 20, 2017

Definitely follow the advice above and get a suitable box mounted to the wall and sort those glads out, or failing that, get someone in who is competent to fix it.

Have you issued the spiders an eviction notice yet?

Taylortwocities · Jun 20, 2017

telectrix said:
IP65 adaptable box screwed to wall. any wholesaler will have them. if plastic you'll need banjos or pirhanna nuts and a fly lead to maintain the cpc.

Indeed, the first thing I look for is a lack of earthing on the armour. The box itself doesnt even seem to be earthed

westward10 · Jun 20, 2017

Okay what do you reckon the box is from. I reckon an old MEM Exel fuseboard.

Lolopopo · Jun 20, 2017

Thanks for all the replies. It's quite funny and I appreciate the concern and advice.

It was meant to be a temporary solution put in by myself but then I didn't find a suitable box in Wickes or Screwfix that would accept the armoured cable.

It is some kind of old box that housed a switch, definitely not water tight.

I will try to find an IP65 box that can be drilled out to size.

I am not an electrician but I am doing a masters in Electronic Engineering, admittedly specialising in embedded software. I also have a copy of the 17th edition BSI Wiring Standards somewhere but I haven't really read it. I don't need an electrician, I just can't find a box. The wiring in the garage is much better! I have emergency stop buttons for the sockets, LED lighting, and a PIR for the lights.

Wilko · Jun 20, 2017

Hi Lolopopo and Welcome to the Forum !
Appreciate you say you don't need an Electrician, but there is lots wrong here besides the box. Sorry to be blunt.

Deleted member 26818 · Jun 20, 2017

Purchase a Wiska junction box, a Wiska Earth clamp for SWA glands and some Wiska silicon gel.

davesparks · Jun 21, 2017

Lolopopo said:
Thanks for all the replies. It's quite funny and I appreciate the concern and advice.

It was meant to be a temporary solution put in by myself but then I didn't find a suitable box in Wickes or Screwfix that would accept the armoured cable.

It is some kind of old box that housed a switch, definitely not water tight.

I will try to find an IP65 box that can be drilled out to size.

I am not an electrician but I am doing a masters in Electronic Engineering, admittedly specialising in embedded software. I also have a copy of the 17th edition BSI Wiring Standards somewhere but I haven't really read it. I don't need an electrician, I just can't find a box. The wiring in the garage is much better! I have emergency stop buttons for the sockets, LED lighting, and a PIR for the lights.

You do need an electrician, what you have done so far is dangerous and not acceptable even as a temporary measure. You haven't even managed to follow the accepted convention on core colours.
You won't find a box to accept the armoured cable, you have to match the correct glands up with a standard box of suitable IP rating. What type of glands are they at the moment? They look like they could be armoured cable glands but then one of the has T&E in it which makes no sense.

A masters in electronic engineering is pretty much irrelevant, it won't save your life if you were to receive an electric shock.

Risteard · Jun 21, 2017

spinlondon said:
Purchase a Wiska junction box, a Wiska Earth clamp for SWA glands and some Wiska silicon gel.

Don't do any of that - just purchase an Electrician.

Outdoor junction box for armoured cable

Lolopopo

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stidge

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LankyWill

Octopus

telectrix

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Andy78

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LankyWill

DavidSpark

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Taylortwocities

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westward10

Lolopopo

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Wilko

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Deleted member 26818

davesparks

Risteard

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