2 x 10mm2 into socket terminals.

[Deleted member 117749]

Hi All, my first post.
What range of accessories has a socket plate with large capacity terminals? I am about to run a 10mm2 SWA cable to a shed and the customer has asked if I can put a couple of sockets in weather-proof enclosures along the route. Can any socket's terminals take 2 x 10mm2 or must I do some clunky choc block lash up?

 

[Dustydazzler]

??????????????????? are you hopefully not as they say part p?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Hi All, my first post.
What range of accessories has a socket plate with large capacity terminals? I am about to run a 10mm2 SWA cable to a shed and the customer has asked if I can put a couple of sockets in weather-proof enclosures along the route. Can any socket's terminals take 2 x 10mm2 or must I do some clunky choc block lash up?

I think for your first post it would have been better to avoid the term 'clunky choc block lash up'. This site tends to pick up on wording like that and then the advice given may not always be too polite.

I would question whether it needs 10mm cable. As others have said 4mm or 6mm is usually fine, although we would need to know the length of the run and the max demand of the shed to be certain of this. This would then solve your problem as you can definitely fit 2 x 4mm in a weatherproof socket (and probably 2 x 6mm although I have never had to do this).

If you do need to use 10mm then rather than a 'clunky choc box lash up' in the back box of the weatherproof socket you could have a weatherproof adaptable box next to the socket which you terminate the 10mm into (and out of) and then some 2.5mm H07RN (basically black rubber flex) going into the weatherproof socket.

Of course the OP may be using 4 core 10mm2 SWA as he needs to bond something in the shed! Doubtful but possible.

Do give us some more details Lord Buncefield and don't be put off writing again just because some take the mickey. Just read the useful replies

 

[Toneyz]

Yes just picked up on that well spotted.

I have as well Pete, had to go back and re-read the question. Thanks Alan.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

You are not going to get 2x 10mm conductors in any 13a socket terminations. If you propose to use the 10mm supply cable in the way stated you will have to run it through a separate enclosure, terminate and take a smaller cable to each socket. However your method begs the question as to whether the 10mm is intended to be a distribution circuit feeding a DB at the shed end with RCD protection there, as it would now be a final circuit requiring RCD protection at source.

 

[Pete999]

Deleted

 

[Toneyz]

Questions to the OP:
What size OCPD is protecting this cable?
How long is the run?
Is this cable protected by an RCD?
Why have you opted for 10mm2, have you done any cable size calculations?
What installation method are you employing?
That's about it I think.

I think you hit the nail on the head in your post-No.3 Pete with the 20A radial from the shed to the sockets or from the house end.

 

[telectrix]

You are not going to get 2x 10mm conductors in any 13a socket terminations. If you propose to use the 10mm supply cable in the way stated you will have to run it through a separate enclosure, terminate and take a smaller cable to each socket. However your method begs the question as to whether the 10mm is intended to be a distribution circuit feeding a DB at the shed end with RCD protection there, as it would now be a final circuit requiring RCD protection at source.

or he could fit IP65 RCD sockets, not sure if that would be allowed tapped into a distribution circuit. is there a reg. prohibiting that?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

or he could fit IP65 RCD sockets, not sure if that would be allowed tapped into a distribution circuit. is there a reg. prohibiting that?

No you are right, he could do that....cant think of anything that would prohibit it, but as others have stated, the best option would seem to be a suitably sized final circuit coming back from the shed.

 

[Deleted account]

Regarding 10 mm SWA. It may be Nesissary dependant on length of run and loading, but I agree with others that quite often 6mm or 4mm will do the trick.

 

[Deleted member 117749]

Originally, I thought ‘What a nasty forum – if this is how you welcome a newbie, I’m out of here’. Then I realised it was Friday night and a few beers might have been consumed after a tense working week. That may have been the reason but was not an excuse.
Thanks to those who made on-topic, constructive responses.

The outbuilding is to be a pottery studio and will have lights, a socket ring and heater spur (but no kiln, thank God) and is 50m from the origin CU, therefore the calc is just into 10mm2 to avoid excessive volt drop.

This new submain would share half of a split board (large house) and outdoor stuff is always at risk of tripping an RCD. A mate has advised me to give the shed and outdoor sockets a dedicated RCD/RCDs and also that I would have a distribution circuit doubling as a final circuit and it should be one or the other (as per Wirepuller).

I spoke to the customer yesterday to urge her to let me feed one outdoor socket from the shed mini CU (local RCD) and the one nearer the house (25m run) from an RCBO in a new mini board within the house. It’s a lot more cost and if she doesn’t buy it then I will have to cut the 10mm2 and put sockets on it as per plan ‘A’.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Don't cut he 10mm sub main , this is folly...

Feed any outdoor sockets from either the house or shed end on its own 16a feeder

 

[DPG]

As above, cutting into the submain to insert two sockets does not seem a good way to do it.

 

[Pete999]

Originally, I thought ‘What a nasty forum – if this is how you welcome a newbie, I’m out of here’. Then I realised it was Friday night and a few beers might have been consumed after a tense working week. That may have been the reason but was not an excuse.
Thanks to those who made on-topic, constructive responses.

The outbuilding is to be a pottery studio and will have lights, a socket ring and heater spur (but no kiln, thank God) and is 50m from the origin CU, therefore the calc is just into 10mm2 to avoid excessive volt drop.

This new submain would share half of a split board (large house) and outdoor stuff is always at risk of tripping an RCD. A mate has advised me to give the shed and outdoor sockets a dedicated RCD/RCDs and also that I would have a distribution circuit doubling as a final circuit and it should be one or the other (as per Wirepuller).

I spoke to the customer yesterday to urge her to let me feed one outdoor socket from the shed mini CU (local RCD) and the one nearer the house (25m run) from an RCBO in a new mini board within the house. It’s a lot more cost and if she doesn’t buy it then I will have to cut the 10mm2 and put sockets on it as per plan ‘A’.

No don't revert to Plan A M,Lord, it's the wrong thing to do.

 

[UNG]

I personally wouldn’t cut the s.w.a , Take it as one piece length all way down to the shed end and terminate in the consumer unit . Are you sure you require 10mm I almost always exclusively use 4mm or 6mm for shed hook ups (2.5mm if it’s just a socket and light).
Anyway back to the question... then just take some 2.5mm s.w.a feeds from the shed to feed some exterior sockets.
Much easier to terminate

The trouble is the socket and light in the shed in most cases always morphs into something bigger than was originally intended

 

[Toneyz]

I will have to cut the 10mm2 and put sockets on it as per plan ‘A’.

So how do you intend to get two 10mm cables into a socket you can only get two 6mm in at best on the sockets that have larger bellmouth terminals What is the design current plus protective device are you using as socket-outlet terminals are only rated at so much.