laying metal conduit

[bad7uk]

hi guys,
i'm not an electrician but need some advice please. i want to lay metal conduit to my birdroom which is 25mtrs from the house to take 4mm armoured cable. my problem is i can fix the conduit to the base of the fence posts but i then need to cross a concrete path 3ft wide to the house wall. would it be acceptable to channel the path and secure the conduit to it. thanks for any advice.
brian

 

[scotsparky]

why use conduit? if if its SWA then cou can bury it no problem if theres no vehicle traffic gig a trwench about 400mm deep thin layer of sand drop cable on top and then cover with sand and fill in . Mark on the fence posts where the cable starts and finishes in the trench and thats it.

 

[malcolmsanford]

hi guys,
i'm not an electrician but need some advice please. i want to lay metal conduit to my birdroom which is 25mtrs from the house to take 4mm armoured cable. my problem is i can fix the conduit to the base of the fence posts but i then need to cross a concrete path 3ft wide to the house wall. would it be acceptable to channel the path and secure the conduit to it. thanks for any advice.
brian

First question I'm going to ask is why do you want to lay metal conduit and armoured cable?

 

[bad7uk]

hi,
the reason for metal is it will be running along a path that i don't want to dig up and the posts are wood so its extra protection.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Forget the conduit and run the SWA, it is totally a waste of money, effort and time, honestly.

 

[bad7uk]

malcolm i can't run swa a long the path and then across the path by the house because it will be exposed to foot traffic. hence why i'm asking if i channel the path by the house is it ok to lay exposed conduit in the channel. hope i'm making myself clear on what i'm asking.
thanks
brian

 

[malcolmsanford]

Dig the channel and lay the SWA in direct. Dig it deep enough to put a layer of sand in, lay the SWA in with some marking tape and then re concrete.

 

[telectrix]

and for what it costs i'd use 6mm to allow for a future increase in current demand.

 

[bad7uk]

hi telectrix,
4mm is more than ample for my needs, its just for lighting, heating, fans and a kettle.
i have spoke to an electrician who worked out that i could use 2.5mm so went slightly higher. also would it be ok to use plastic conduit instead of metal, except across the path.
thanks
brian

 

[telectrix]

plastic conduit would be fine. all you have to worry about is ensuring that the cable will not be prone to being damaged. SWA can be concreted in under the path and surface cleated along fence. the 4mm will require a 32A MCB at the supply end. RCD protection can be from the house CU or at the shed. the SWA itself does not need RCD protection, but must have overcurrent protection i.e. MCB or fuse.

 

[bad7uk]

thanks telectric, i just want to fix the cable before i get an electrician in to connect everything up. i just want to make sure it will be legal. can i run the swa in metal conduit across the path in a channel so i don't have to dig up the path to bury it.
thanks
brian

 

[telectrix]

are you wanting to run above the path? what is the path made of? i'd prefer to bury it.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Is this electrician notifying the building control for you if your in England and Wales as this is notifiable.

I would imagine your "electrician" will not be to keen in signing off a piece of steel conduit laying across a path way to be honest. But there are all sorts.

 

[truckster]

"can i run the swa in metal conduit across the path in a channel"

As long as there is no tripping hazard but it will look unsightly. Just to throw another spanner into the cake mix I believe that fixing cables to a fence is frowned upon as the fence is classed as a temporary structure.

If it's a one off expense I would get the bull by the horns and bury the SWA and make a proper job of it.

 

[telectrix]

The fence may be classed as temporary, but then so is the shed to which his cable, sum main and fittings will be fixed to