Garden power

[Peter Woodford]

Guys,

have been to look at a job tonight and the client wants a weatherproof socket installed around 20metres down his garden. Cannot dig out ground as trees flowers in way but can clip to fence. As for the length of the run would i need to run a 4mm swa or a 2.5mm Always get a bit lost on this sort of thing,need to get back into working this stuff out myself. this will be spured off of a socket down stairs . Have gave the guy a option of updating board as well or will have to fit RCBO onto board. Does any one know roughly how much a wylex RCBO is? am hoping he will go for the updated board.

Also saw in his house a switch under the stairs that should be replaced and a security light outside that did'nt have a cover over it that should be replaced was going to do this for free if he goes for the fuseboard replacement

your thoughts please

 

[electricAl]

Hi Peter. A couple of thoughts...

Have a good hard look at that fence before you go cleating swa to it - i`ve done this before, but only when it was the most sensible option & only when i`ve critically assessed the condition of the fence as being in sound condition & likely to give many future years service.
Otherwise, i would suggest you exhaust all other possibilities.
I`m fairly sure the NIC take a dim view of this in general. Have heard they`ll even sanction a code 2 against it - but to be fair, that may be only if fence is in poor condition ???

Are you with the NIC ? if so maybe look for guidance from them...

As for the RCBO - good idea in principle but you may struggle to source a Wylex B-curve - most of theres are C`s. Problem then would be permitted Zs halfed
Would hurt you worse if the run is a long one.
Did you take a loop measurement at feed skt? Radial or RFC? Protective device - altho i`m guessing you`ll FCU spur down to 13A?

 

[Modernelectric]

ive picked up wylex rcbos for under 30 quid. as for working for free you must be joking!!

 

[daniel hill]

rcbo are normally 30 quid but i sell them for about a tenna

 

[electricAl]

For Pete`s sake are we talking B or C`s here, lads?

 

[daniel hill]

type c

 

[electricAl]

Thanks Daniel.

Would come down to whether the OP could make the Zs work.

 

[Peter Woodford]

Remind me what op is having a bad day. Would 2.5 be o.k

 

[electricAl]

Remind me what op is having a bad day. Would 2.5 be o.k

tis you Peter, tis you...

OP = original poster Oh dear, you are having a bad day

As to the cable sizing, happy to help but would need more info...cct details, protective device, Zs readings etc. but a starting point would be that 2.5mm would add approx 0.3 ohms to your existing Zs values without using the armour as additional cpc - & obviously somewhat less if you did.