Outside lighting, best way to wire them and what with?

[Tim101232]

Hi, i have bought 3 lights for my garden, I've installed them on 3 upright posts and driled 1 hole through the back of the post for a cable to run through and down the back of the post. At the base of the posts I have decking, then a patch of grass before the house.

I was wondering if someone could help me to determine if.....
i can wire 3 lights with a twin and earth grey cable? Joint all 3 together under my decking with a splitter thing, then run the cable in under my grass in some kind on duct and then up then up the wall and drill a small hole where I have a socket already located the otherside inside the house that powers one light already in The garden?


Now this is just what I know, but would like a professionals help to point me in the right direction?
thanks to anyone in advance who can help me and thanks for taking the time to reply

Thanks.
tim

 

[jimmymac]

Hi Tim, your garden is considered to be a special location so any work carried out there is notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control and should really be carried out by a competant person. I would call someone in for this one if your unsure matey

 

[brman]

Tim, I suspect it is pretty frustrating to have bought the lights then get told by a bunch of electricians you can't fit them, particularly if you are a competent DIYer. Unfortunately though Jimmy has hit the nail on the head, even if you persuaded us to spent time explaining all the pitfalls and design criteria and you felt happy to go ahead you still have the problem that it needs to be tested, certified and notified to building control. it will be cheaper just to call an electrician in the first place.......

btw. if you don't know of the building regulation requirements (and most householders appear not to....) then have a google for Part P. And if you want to know what sparks think of the management of part p then search for it here :lol:

 

[Guitarist]

Hi Tim, just to reiterate what the others have said, your garden is a special location under electrical and building regulations and as such any work must be notified to your local building control. You are free to do this yourself, and provided you are competent, you can pay a fee (usually around £200) to have the building inspector come out to see what you plan to do, then sign it off if he/she feels the work has been carried out and tested to the latest requirements. Part P registered electricians have undergone an assessment to allow them to do this work without involving building control, along with possessing the knowledge and equipment needed.
Please get an electrician in to do this wiring for you. It is the law and the safe thing to do.

 

[Knobhead]

Think he's bailed out.

 

[robd]

Back to the old chestnut of if b&q sell it, people will do it and if people want it b&q will sell it. Ignore the regs until it suits, charge us all an arm and a leg for a scheme and Joe Public just do any old thing...It works therefor it's safe...

 

[Engineer54]

It's not anything New, it's been going on forever!! The only thing new, is the Scam providers ripping you lot off, and giving anything in return!! lol!! At least these DIY house holders etc, will, ...when they are stuck, get an electrician in to sort there mess out. Which will always be putting money in your pockets.

Think about it, nothing stopping you buying pipework and doing your own plumbing, but you may have to call a plumber when things don't go quite as you planned!! lol!!!

 

[truckster]

It's not anything New, it's been going on forever!! The only thing new, is the Scam providers ripping you lot off, and giving anything in return!! lol!! At least these DIY house holders etc, will, ...when they are stuck, get an electrician in to sort there mess out. Which will always be putting money in your pockets.

Unless they're dead

Think about it, nothing stopping you buying pipework and doing your own plumbing, but you may have to call a plumber when things don't go quite as you planned!! lol!!!

I can only get wet!

 

[Knobhead]

I can only get wet!

Gas is dry.

 

[Engineer54]

Unless they're dead

I can only get wet!

Possibly!!

But then you could end up far worse than just wet too!!! This just smacks of another wanna-be electrical policeman that thinks the general public should be banned from purchasing anything remotely electrical, because they owe you a living!!

As i said, this isn't anything New!! Never been a problem in the past. I've only ever seen/heard of anyone wanting to ban the sale of electrical materials to the general public, since the formation of Part Pee scam providers and the influx of quick fix training centre's churning out under trained ill experienced wanna be electricians....

If anything, those two organisation types should be your targets for any banning, not the general public!!!

 

[Guitarist]

Gas is dry.

I do a lot of plumbing, and I do it well. I would Never touch gas tho...

 

[J&M Electrical]

I do a lot of plumbing, and I do it well. I would Never touch gas tho...

Agree, we do property development aswell as a side venture when we are quiet and we do everything apart from Gas and plastering ourselves.

 

[mickys86]

Hi Tim, just to point out what others haven't is that your idea of twin and earth used to install garden lights and coming straight off a mains socket is very wrong. And rather dangerous. It wouldn't cost much to have an electrician install these for you. Hope you get to read these comments before something goes wrong.....

 

[trev]

Well guys we gave him the best advice we could so if he DIYs it, We didn't start the fire

 

[truckster]

Possibly!!

But then you could end up far worse than just wet too!!! This just smacks of another wanna-be electrical policeman that thinks the general public should be banned from purchasing anything remotely electrical, because they owe you a living!!

As i said, this isn't anything New!! Never been a problem in the past. I've only ever seen/heard of anyone wanting to ban the sale of electrical materials to the general public, since the formation of Part Pee scam providers and the influx of quick fix training centre's churning out under trained ill experienced wanna be electricians....

If anything, those two organisation types should be your targets for any banning, not the general public!!!

I think the thousands of house fires and many deaths by electrocution may argue against this sentiment!

Always fancied being a policeman, lie the uniform!