Outside wiring tied to inside sockets.

[Davidgriffiths]

Hi guys.

Im new here, looking for some advice.

Just bought my first house, and naturally.. been poking about to see what the previous owners have been up to...

At the back of the house, on the outside of the wall, is a run of Steel armoured cable that runs to where the previous owners had their shed.

The SWA cable goes into an unswitched, outdoor, FCU.

The wiring then runs straight THROUGH the wall, and into the back of a double socket in the kitchen, where it is connected into the sockets terminals.

I.E... the outdoor cable is powered by the 'indoor' ring main. Albeit fed through an FCU.

basically... my question is, is this right? or should it be better protected? i have no idea if it was installed at build (2008 construction) or afterwards DIY style...

This all kind of came about as i was looking for a way to make it switched internally, to allow for some fairy lights to be placed around the decking..

cheers for any help peoples!

 

[Octopus]

My garage is supplied in precisely the way you describe except the FCU is inside the lounge, and the house was built in 1981

 

[BlueToBits]

Assuming everything else is compliant there is no problem in regard to safety doing it this way providing the kitchen socket ring is protected by an RCD. (A trip switch with a test button as well as a standard flip lever) The power that can be drawn from the outside circuit is limited by the 13A fuse in the FCU AND the load drawn from the kitchen sockets, which may include a single oven, dishwasher, kettle, washing machine, tumble dryer etc. It would be unfortunate and bad installation practice to have all kitchen and laundry appliances on one circuit but it wouldn't be the first time. It is liveable with but can be inconvenient. 13Amps will give enough power for the usual domestic outside things, but may be pushing it if you intend to use stationary workshop tools larger than a small welder or air compressor. Any load taken by the outside is, of course, load that can't be used in the kitchen.