Armoured Cable Installation

[Evans Electric]

Before you even worry about how to get the cable down to the shed you will need to think of how to get FROM the cu if you go that way. Often the cu is at the front of the house and the shed at the bottom of the back garden. MANY, MANY options, none as "easy" as spurring off a socket which is why many choose the "quick" route:

- Down from the cu then under a raised floor, across the house to the back wall. Laminate and tiled flooring make it more difficult.

- Up from the cu, between floors then down the back wall - of course, as with downstairs you may have  issues of again laminate flooring, fitted carpets, furniture, beds to move etc.

- Up from the cu, into the loft across and then down the back outside wall.

- Out through the wall from the cu then clipped to the outside wall all the way to the back of the house.

Only just the other day a friend who is an ELECTRICIAN (has 5 kids btw) was moaning that he had lain a length of 6mm sq. armoured along the base of his fence to the summer house at the bottom of the garden where they have a big TV etc and use it as an extension of the house. One of the kids was cutting the lawn and went THROUGH the armoured with the mower! Just because it's armoured doesn't mean it shouldn't be protected!

Lots of ways to skin this cat but if you choose the "easy" option you may well regret it later. Going direct from the cu with the shed on it's own circuit WILL give you more capacity down there etc. As above, a scenario might be that you switch the heater on one cold evening as you plan on working in there later. Hubby etc decides he'll just finish mowing the lawn, shredding those branches etc. Straight away you're over 13A!

No pain, no gain etc!

IF you go underground you might even consider running the cabling in it's own ducting (another "tube") and even think about running a CAT5/6 cable(s) for any computer down there if your WiFi won't reach. Intercom (although there are ones that run over the mains)? CCTV (again there are wireless options.........)?

The "list" is endless! Not trying to scare you just pointing out things that others have learnt from experience!

Blimey Onoff , you'll frighten the bloke to death .............  how about H&C running water and a connection to the main sewer system.  :innocent

 

[Apache]

We don't know how much of an issue money is.

You could argue that it was reasonable to spur from a socket if the run short and expected usage low at a cost of £X.

Or the better option is a new way in the CU, buried SWA ect for much bigger cost £Y.

There might not be space in the CU for additional circuits so that might need upgrading, the costs can spiral.

 

[OnOff]

Blimey Onoff , you'll frighten the bloke to death .............  how about H&C running water and a connection to the main sewer system. 

That'll be my old "stable" then though the soil pipe just runs to the cess pit as we're not on main drainage! :lol: Future proofing with a view to making into a habitable space later for one of the kids is the plan. Helps if you have a relative with a min digger to!

Nothing wrong with going a bit OTT though it has been said that I over think things!

Of course if it is a lady's "office" then there could be some high loads to consider...........iron, oven, washing machine, various cooking appliances. AA charger etc! :coat

We don't know how much of an issue money is.

You could argue that it was reasonable to spur from a socket if the run short and expected usage low at a cost of £X.

Or the better option is a new way in the CU, buried SWA ect for much bigger cost £Y.

There might not be space in the CU for additional circuits so that might need upgrading, the costs can spiral.

Very true. There's that old IET 2-page guide on outbuildings which has been posted recently on TEF before from 2005 that I always thought was very good. Of course it is pre 17th and would need some updating to account for the "modern" RCD requirements but it gives a "feel" for what's what. Let's be honest there must be hundreds of DIYers who've followed it. I'm always a bit loathe to post the link in case anyone follows it without being aware of the 17th changes etc.

 

[pewter]

Of course if it is a lady's "office" then there could be some high loads to consider...........iron, oven, washing machine, various cooking appliances. AA charger etc! :coat

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