Garden sockets

[steve447]

Was asked for some advice today regarding a outside socket. Fella has bought one of them inflatable spa hot tubs, he said the spa has a rcd plug on it and wants to know if he can spur from a socket inside and stick a outdoor socket outside to plug in the spa.

I informed him that this was notfiable, and i enquired as to his CU , which from his description is a wylex with rewireable fuses.

My question is what would he need doing to comply, my idea was to come off the socket inside with a rcd fcu to feed the outside socket. or to use a rcd protected socket outside.

His other question was as the spa plug is a RCD plug, it wont actuall fit into the outside socket he had looked at due to the cover.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The requirement in BS7671 is to RCD protect socket-outlets used for mobile (not fixed) equipment outdoors.
However, as the tub has come with an RCD plug afixed, it would appear that the manufacturer's recomend the use of an RCD.
Your best bet to my mind would be to obtain a weatherproof RCD socket-outlet that will take the RCD plug.
If that is not an option, then remove the plug and replace with a standard plug.
It might be an idea to find a 10mA RCD socket-outlet?

 

[Adam W]

RCD FCU yeah, so the cable to the socket will be protected as well; either that or replace the MCB for an RCBO.
By the sound of it this is a temporary hot tub designed more for running a cable through an open window than making permanent arrangements for, but if that's what they want...

IMO if the rcd plug doesn't fit in the socket and you can't get a better shaped socket you could use a short extension to make it fit - what with an RCD on the plug and one somewhere on the final cct there is plenty of RCD action going on.

 

[Adam W]

... remove the plug and replace with a standard plug.

I don't like that idea - imagine if the customer gets bored of this inflatable hot tub and sells it at a car boot sale without remembering to fork out the same amount they'd probably get for it on a new rcd plug.
I reckon they come with rcd plugs on them for a reason.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

As this is classed as a swimming pool in the BRB the earthing system may be of concern if it is TNCS in the house.