Power to shed

Gary K · Oct 9, 2019

Hi Guys.
Hopefully straightforward question with a similar answer.

My Mum is having a power supply put in from her CU in her bungalow to her shed and greenhouse. She has had a sparks come round and quote and is coming round later this month do do the job.
I have asked about the job and apparently he is just going to attach the cable to a plastic water pipe that lays on the floor and goes down the side of the property. I have asked what size and type of cable and she is unsure of size but believes is will be SWA. The run will be around 50 metres
I was a bit concerned that it is just going to lay on the surface with no other protection.
Is this acceptable although not best practice, or is it definitely breaking the regs?
Thanks for any input.

Deleted account · Oct 10, 2019

Hi @Gary K

To get the answers you want, maybe contact the spark direct to see what he is actually going to do. Ask what type of cable and what size.
Then come back to us with probable load and length of cable to see if we think it’s ok.

As for SWA laying on ground. I have no problem with that dependant on location.

Just remember ask 3 sparks the same question you willl get 3 different answers, but cable calcs cannot lie. On sizing we should be in agreement.

westward10 · Oct 10, 2019

I have deleted/edited some posts. Can we keep this on track and stop the member sniping. Who knows the OP may come back.

Midwest · Oct 12, 2019

Gary K said:
It would just be a couple if lights,a plug point for hedge trimmer and lawn mowers

I'd tell her to get some solar lights and battery powered/petrol lawn mower.

Gary K · Oct 13, 2019

Sorry guys have been away.
Will try and get some more details.
There used to be power to the sheds with the cable coming out of the garage( and I don't know who fitted it) and was strung through the bordering trees about 4m from the ground This is no longer an option due to loosing most of the trees on that side of the garden.
The water pipe has been down several years and has never been damaged. I think if the cable is cable tied to this blue pipe, it is more visible than if it was just laid out separately is the thinking.
Solar lights are great when they work but not the same as mains powered and personally, I think battery powered tools aren't that good what with charging after 30 mins work, older batteries not holding a charge and the additional weight. Thing that you don't have to worry about with a cable!
Also had to deal with this in the loft near to where he will be taking the cable. Glad we found it and had it destroyed rather than the electrician disturbing it!

FatAlan · Oct 13, 2019

fairlight said:
I really cant see any difference in laying it direct on the ground or tying it to a plastic water pipe already laying on the ground. If said water pipe is in a location where mechanical damage is unlikely then it would make sense to keep the two together where they are obvious rather than separate. I cant see anything wrong with that if other options are impractical. As already stated burying is going to see a major cost increase which may render the job not viable.

TBH I wouldn't want to clip SWA to say a flimsy plastic waste pipe for fear of collapsing the pipe fixings and damaging the pipe. The SWA would be fine. If both are just lying on the ground not so much of an issue although if clipped together, someone grabbing hold of the SWA is likely to rip the pipe apart.

Gary K · Oct 13, 2019

FatAlan said:
TBH I wouldn't want to clip SWA to say a flimsy plastic waste pipe for fear of collapsing the pipe fixings and damaging the pipe. The SWA would be fine. If both are just lying on the ground not so much of an issue although if clipped together, someone grabbing hold of the SWA is likely to rip the pipe apart.

Both pipe and cable will be on the ground.
I would not call MDPE pipe flimsy. You could drive a tank over it and all you would do is flatten it!

westward10 · Oct 13, 2019

Cable-tying a cable to a drain pipe is not a prescribed fixing method. It should have its own independent means of support.

Gary K · Oct 13, 2019

westward10 said:
Cable-tying a cable to a drain pipe is not a prescribed fixing method. It should have its own independent means of support.

But its laying on the floor so it does have independent support.

fairlight · Oct 13, 2019

I feel a modicum of common sense needs to be applied here. While it is clearly preferable to either bury or provide independent support, in practice if run on the ground alongside the pipe in a situation not liable to mechanical damage then that may well be a cheap and adequate solution for a very simple installation.

DeanoRN · Oct 13, 2019

fairlight said:
I feel a modicum of common sense needs to be applied here. While it is clearly preferable to either bury or provide independent support, in practice if run on the ground alongside the pipe in a situation not liable to mechanical damage then that may well be a cheap and adequate solution for a very simple installation.

i have to agree with you, having read through the comments i think the whole thing is getting over complicated. but i'm not an expert by any means.

westward10 · Oct 13, 2019

Gary K said:
But its laying on the floor so it does have independent support.

But at some point the intention is to secure to a water pipe.

FatAlan · Oct 14, 2019

At least I now know what an MDPE pipe is

Power to shed

Gary K

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Deleted account

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westward10

Midwest

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Gary K

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FatAlan

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Gary K

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westward10

Gary K

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fairlight

DeanoRN

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westward10

FatAlan

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