View the thread, titled "Questions regarding garage supply." which is posted in UK Electrical Forum on Electricians Forums.

I have been asked to supply a garage/stables with some sockets, they are reluctant to have a CU due to cost and will be converting the whole space completely in the next 5 years or so and will do it ‘properly’ then and they just want some power out there for now.

There is a 32a MCB on the main CU in the house which feeds a junction box in what I believe to be 4mm T+E at the other end of the house which is around 10m from the CU. This junction box is just inside the wall of the house, where I would connect the T+E to some 4mm swa and then run the swa under the car park to the garage ( ducting is in place ). Around 15m to the first socket from the junction box then into another 2 stables ( there is 3 side by side ). I imagine I’ll use 40m of SWA from the junction box inside the house to last socket in the last stable, so 10m T+E and 40m swa, 50m in total. All 4mm.

The load used at one time should never exceed 4000w so 18 ish amps. A granny charger at night for their car and in the day a heater, speaker and a light for the home gym.

Voltage drop should be okay per my calculations. 50m, 4mm T+E, clipped in ceiling board.

Current carrying capacity of 4mm T+E can vary, I’m confused on the reference method. It is clipped but direct, in an open ish space in a wall, less then 100mm.
The swa is xlpe and rated to 42amps so no worries.

So my question is should I replace the 32A MCB for a 20A MCB?

Or should I upgrade the 4mm T+E to 6mm or would be 4mm okay and I’ll let the client know that in the future that would need upgrading.

I know this may appear basic to some, I’ve just entered into more domestic electrics and was doing a lot of fault finding and testing before. I’ll be thankful of any help and tips.
 
I have been asked to supply a garage/stables with some sockets, they are reluctant to have a CU due to cost and will be converting the whole space completely in the next 5 years or so and will do it ‘properly’ then and they just want some power out there for now.

There is a 32a MCB on the main CU in the house which feeds a junction box in what I believe to be 4mm T+E at the other end of the house which is around 10m from the CU. This junction box is just inside the wall of the house, where I would connect the T+E to some 4mm swa and then run the swa under the car park to the garage ( ducting is in place ). Around 15m to the first socket from the junction box then into another 2 stables ( there is 3 side by side ). I imagine I’ll use 40m of SWA from the junction box inside the house to last socket in the last stable, so 10m T+E and 40m swa, 50m in total. All 4mm.

The load used at one time should never exceed 4000w so 18 ish amps. A granny charger at night for their car and in the day a heater, speaker and a light for the home gym.

Voltage drop should be okay per my calculations. 50m, 4mm T+E, clipped in ceiling board.

Current carrying capacity of 4mm T+E can vary, I’m confused on the reference method. It is clipped but direct, in an open ish space in a wall, less then 100mm.
The swa is xlpe and rated to 42amps so no worries.

So my question is should I replace the 32A MCB for a 20A MCB?

Or should I upgrade the 4mm T+E to 6mm or would be 4mm okay and I’ll let the client know that in the future that would need upgrading.

I know this may appear basic to some, I’ve just entered into more domestic electrics and was doing a lot of fault finding and testing before. I’ll be thankful of any help and tips.

What is the earthing system that is going to be supplying the stables etc ?

What about RCD protection ?
 
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They could spend more now and put in a bigger supply cable to cope with future plans….

A garage CU won’t break the bank, and will give some control over final circuits.

and if they can afford an electric car, they can afford a proper charge point instead of a granny charger.
(Granny chargers need a good quality socket to plug into)
 
sounds like a bodge job to me, either do it right or walk away, if they can afford to stable horses they can afford to look after them , tight arsed rich gits, tell them your not a cowboy and they can get someone else if they want a bodge job
 
sounds like a bodge job to me, either do it right or walk away, if they can afford to stable horses they can afford to look after them , tight arsed rich gits, tell them your not a cowboy and they can get someone else if they want a bodge job
The customer maybe better off getting an electrician to quote for the job.
 
Remember, there are additional considerations to an installation if it involves livestock.
 
The customer maybe better off getting an electrician to quote for the job.
oooh, thought he was one mate, my mistake, in that case as you said
 
oooh, thought he was one mate, my mistake, in that case as you said
I don't really know if he is or not, but I would have thought an electrician would be able to calculate cable size or know about requirements for rcd or livestock.
Especially since he said he's spent a lot of his time testing.

He was last seen today, but obviously hasn't replied.
 

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