Garage Wiring

[Eddie21]

I am a retired Sparks, so my question is not so much how to, but can I?  I want to put electrics in my garage from a spare MCB in the house.  I would like to wire this to a 'garage' distribution unit and from there to lighting and a socket or two.  Is this in order?

 

[Sidewinder]

Welcome to the forum.

On the face of it in your own home you can do what you like.

I'm not sure about how Part P in England applies to this work, it would be notifiable work in Wales.

Myself, I would just do it, but, then again I can notify it myself!

I'm sure one of the guys who works in England can give you the low down on what has to be notified etc. shortly.

 

[roys]

I certainaly didn't even think twice about wiring up my own garage. Spare MCB in house consumer unit, SWA cable to garage into the the garage consumer unit.  Jobs a good un.

PS I am in Scotland.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

For just a couple of sockets & a light I wouldn't bother with a Garage CU / distribution unit...

Bit overkill IMHO...

Just wire a 20A MCB from your house onto your garage sockets as a radial..

then a switched fused spur with either 5A or 3A to run your lights off!!

For the average domestic garage, occasion DIY tools etc..

20A radial direct from the house will be more than sufficient.

Unless of course you are planning some serious power consumption in the garage....?

Now on a Part P score...

If you wire a new circuit it IS notifiable...

But of course if you spurred the whole lot off and existing ring via a 13A FCU then its NOT notifiable!!!

NEW circuit -vs- modify OLD circuit!!

:C

 

[steptoe]

Just don't go reporting yourself to the electric polis.

Do you have any test kit to check your earth etc, just to be on the safe side.

 

[ProDave]

I'll just point out the OP is in Scotland. 

Where we all know there is no Part P to worry about.   :run

Just go ahead and do it.

 

[apprentice87]

Yep me too, so long as you can test it, just do it.

john

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I'll just point out the OP is in Scotland. 

Where we all know there is no Part P to worry about.   :run

Just go ahead and do it.

Scotland??????????

Shropshire???

:C

Reputation:0

• LocationNorth Shropshire
• Country:United Kingdom

Offline

 

[Andy™]

they must have moved the border last week?

 

[ProDave]

Scotland??????????

Shropshire???

:C

BIG OOps.

I saw a reply saying "I'm in Scotland" and miss read that as the OP answering.

:slap   :coat   :facepalm:   :red card

Is that enough humble pie?

 

[steptoe]

they must have moved the border last week?

I think it's just north of Birmingham now :|

 

[Murdoch]

Being in Shropshire is almost Wales so maybe he should apply the Welsh Part P rules! lol

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Being in Shropshire....

he probably just needs a few pints of Shropshire Lad....

then he wont give a monkeys fig about any rules, regs, guidance or good practice...

he'll just do the job get it working then go back and have another pint!!

Guinness   Guinness

for those who haven't tried it..

if you do get the chance...

quite a pleasant liquid refreshment!

http://www.woodbrewery.co.uk/beer/shropshire-lad

 

[Sharpend]

they must have moved the border last week?

Perhaps someone should tell them it was a NO!!!!

Cue PD!

 

[Apache]

If he has a 'spare' MCB in his consumer unit (old shower or immersion heater, perhaps) then it's not a new circuit. Therefore the work is not notifiable.

Crack on.

 

[Sharpend]

Is that a play on words Patch?

Surely a circuit is from start to finish?????

 

[Apache]

Is that a play on words Patch?

Surely a circuit is from start to finish?????

No. Anyone can extend an existing circuit. It is the creation of a new circuit that becomes notifiable.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

If he has a 'spare' MCB in his consumer unit (old shower or immersion heater, perhaps) then it's not a new circuit. Therefore the work is not notifiable.

Crack on.

A spare MCB is not a circuit....

an MCB is an over-current protective device for a circuit..

A circuit is an assembly of electrical equipment supplied from the same origin and protected by the same over current protective device..

and a circuit will have a set of characteristics and test readings that can be noted on an EIC..

e.g.

R1+R2,

IR

Zs

CSA of conductors

Volt drop

etc...

without these it is not an existing circuit that can be extended.

opcorn

 

[Apache]

Ok - but assuming something is connected to the MCB then we have a circuit. It would seem strange to me (not a spark) to just have an empty MCB already fitted to the CU. Obviously as soon as something is added to the circuit the previous readings become meaningless....

 

[Andy™]

Ok - but assuming something is connected to the MCB then we have a circuit. It would seem strange to me (not a spark) to just have an empty MCB already fitted to the CU. Obviously as soon as something is added to the circuit the previous readings become meaningless....

its not that strange to have a spare MCB. if a new board was fitted, it may have came with a selection of MCBs where all were fitted, but not used. or it may have had a circuit connected previously that was now disconnected