SWA in garden advice needed please

[Deleted member 26818]

Still wondering why you are considering providing 30mA RCD protection for the SWA cable.

 

[TheMunk]

Have you thought of moling it in ?
Not sure what the going rate is to hire one as we own all ours but i think it could be around the £100 mark , if they want you to magic the cable in then they have got to pay Merlin prices !

Amazing!!! Wetting myself laughing! I'm gonna nick that for when I next get a customer who wants a magician

Still wondering why you are considering providing 30mA RCD protection for the SWA cable.

I've no spare ways on my main cu so was gonna put in a small rcd board in house and main switch cu in shed. Don't see why you can't do it this way to get extra protection for swa. Why would this be an issue??

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I would suggest that you consider Section 314 of BS7671.
For instance have you taken account of any danger that may present if there is loss of lighting in the shed?
Do you consider that your proposal minimises inconvenience in the event of a fault?
It appears from your reply, that you intend providing two methods of additional protection to the distribution circuit, and have not considered the implications, or whether your proposals may entail the non-compliance with other requirements of BS7671.

 

[Strima]

Edit: It's been a long day and my response could have been better.

 

[ackbarthestar]

I would suggest that you consider Section 314 of BS7671.
For instance have you taken account of any danger that may present if there is loss of lighting in the shed?
Do you consider that your proposal minimises inconvenience in the event of a fault?
It appears from your reply, that you intend providing two methods of additional protection to the distribution circuit, and have not considered the implications, or whether your proposals may entail the non-compliance with other requirements of BS7671.

I shouldn't think there would be that much inconvenience unless the family living in the shed waiting for their legitimate passports to come through, were thrown into darkness while lighting their candles and their bukas caught alight.

So its unlikely that the shed will be used in the dead of night, which seems to suggest that common sense needs to be employed.

A cable mechanically protected from the probable dangers such as spade wielding Ferrel gardeners and those mad domestic 11pm+ riots will be most likely protected by an SWA cable laid on the ground inside a polypipe next to a path..
Now once the cable is protected then RCBOs in the shed will cover the final circuits.

I still can't imagine that even this level of protection will ever be tested......

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The fact that there is going to be a lighting circuit, suggests that the shed is in fact intended to be used in the dark.
To my mind common sense would dictate that the OP considers whether another method of additional protection is required for the SWA cable, and whether greater compliance with Section 314 can be achieved by just providing RCD protection where it is required.
I would consider it to be more inconvenient to traipse 10 - 15 meters back to the house to reset an RCD as opposed to resetting an RCD in the shed.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I would consider it to be more inconvenient to traipse 10 - 15 meters back to the house to reset an RCD as opposed to resetting an RCD in the shed.

And on that traipse back the customer may find Mrs/Mr customer most upset that the shed tripped out the RCD in the house just as dirty Den was about too ........../United were about to score a goal .................

 

[silverfox1]

If it were a small workshop or garden office or a self employed mechanics garage etc etc you get the picture I could fully understand all the discussions taking place but a garden shed , storage for garden tools and lawn mower, am with Ackbarthestar on this occasion.
Just my opinion chaps.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If it were a small workshop or garden office or a self employed mechanics garage etc etc you get the picture I could fully understand all the discussions taking place but a garden shed , storage for garden tools and lawn mower, am with Ackbarthestar on this occasion.
Just my opinion chaps.

What you agree with Ackbarthestar, that the RCD protection should be in the shed by means of RCBOs protecting the final circuits?
As opposed to my opinion that the RCD protection should be at the shed.

 

[silverfox1]

Sorry spinlondon I was more referring to inconvenience factor mentioned in Ackbarthestars post hence garden shed reference. As I read it I thought he was referring to extra protection of swa by polypipe not rcd at house then have rcbos at shed , there is no point having both rcd at house and rcbos in shed, if I read it wrong I do appologise.

 

[dpiers1980]

will u.v light cause the p.v.c on swa to start degrading I read about this one of the reasons your not meant to run standard p.v.c conduit outside because it becomes brittle I may be wrong but am doing my BS7671 right now an came across it somewhere in there.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Yes UV will degrade PVC.
Fortunately in the vast majority of cases, it will take longer than the expected life of the cable before it has any appreciable effect.

 

[Engineer54]

There has been UV resistant PVC conduit and SWA cables available for a number of years now. Not really needed in the UK, as the UV levels are relatively very low compared with say Southern Europe, Middle East, Far east etc....!!

 

[markc123]

Rules are made for breaking............just dig the bitches flower bed up and deal with the consequences afterwards. Tell her/him its how you roll.

And by rules are made for breaking, i obviouslly didn't mean statutory regulations, nor the majority of un-statutory regulations. Sorry Mr Inspector.