Getting power to an outbuilding

[rosieroob]

Hi, I am new to this forum but have been researching the problem above and am hoping someone can give me some good advice. I want to be able to run power to a wooden cabin at the end of my garden. The garden is approx 120ft long. I wanted to be able to have lighting and sockets (maybe 3 x double) for drum kit (!), air hockey and the like! I had an electrician come round who suggested I run power from a socket in my back room, (RCD'd) and then run cable up the garden to the cabin, RCD'd again (I think). My question is do we have to bury this cable under ground? It would have to go under a patio, and along some very ancient hedges which I am not sure can be dug up! This would be a deal breaker I think..has anyone got any suggestions? Could we put the cable in some sort of conduit and still be OK? There is only a plastic chicken wire fence behind lots of hedges! Would a generator be a sensible alternative, how/where do I find out about these and set them up? Arrgghh...

 

[somersetsparks]

With a little mini-digger in your garden, you would probably have atrench cut fairly quickly, short of that you could put up a short foot high fence along the hedgerow and clip SWA/ conduit to that?

 

[Octopus]

The cable could be on the ground under the bushes. Not ideal but if thats the only way.

I would recommend you get another sparky in to quote.

 

[markc123]

With a little mini-digger in your garden, you would probably have atrench cut fairly quickly, short of that you could put up a short foot high fence along the hedgerow and clip SWA/ conduit to that?

Or someone polish - they're good at digging for england :lol:

SWA along the hedge row isn't ideal, as murdoch has said - but if it's the only way, what can you do.

I'd query him on the 2 rcd's in circuit though.

Some peoples argument for having swa on the ground is flora and fauna - but if i see a small animal been able to bite through SWA i wouldn't be approaching it - it'll rip your head off.

 

[rosieroob]

Ha..if any of the foxes in my garden bit through it. I'd be quite happy! Is a foot high fence high enough?, thought I read somewhere that it had to be 3m overhead?...could be going slightly mad though..thought this would be simple! Why query 2 RCD's ?, don't I need one in the house at the power source and in the outbuilding?

 

[Octopus]

Ha..if any of the foxes in my garden bit through it. I'd be quite happy! Is a foot high fence high enough?, thought I read somewhere that it had to be 3m overhead?...could be going slightly mad though..thought this would be simple! Why query 2 RCD's ?, don't I need one in the house at the power source and in the outbuilding?

Get another spark in to quote. We don't give step by step guides on here.

 

[telectrix]

you don't want 2 RCDs in series. a fault could trip either one. SWA cable does not need RCD protection. best is to have the RCD at the outhouse. whilst not ideal, a SWA cable laid on top of the ground where it's visible is OK as long as it's not going to get chewed by mowers etc. you could run it in a duct of waste pipe.

 

[HandySparks]

Where in Surrey are you? If someone on here is close, they could call in and take a look and maybe come up with another way of doing the job.

 

[shocking_eg]

you wont be able to pull much power down this shed if your sparks is thinking of pulling power from a nearby socket !

what happens when you want a heater down there ?

 

[Geordie Spark]

Take your pick from this lot bonny lad:

http://www.electriciansforums.net/g...earch.php?searchid=2628405&ss=4648j3420098j13

The "Search" facility on this forum is fantastic, but sadly very underused.

 

[Adam W]

If you're running flex on catenary wire it should be at least 3m high, which is a good way to avoid the hedges and patio but not the most aesthetically pleasing solution.