underground cable

[bmcecosse]

It's all very well till it goes BANG... I fitted gas hob ( that's NOT allowed up here) - and various electrical additions - not exactly difficult. But insurance co could use it as excuse to not pay out I suppose.

[les]

I think one of the problems come when trying to sell a property, there are certain certificates required to prove an installation is done correctly. However I don't know how far back this would be applicable.

[MarkyB]

I guess that new houses will end up with a paper trail for every part.
Installations sounds about right, certainly for a boiler or cooker, but for every socket?
Presumably a test for electrical operation and safety would suffice when the provenance isn't known or certificates lost.

[Trickydicky]

Take a look here, http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permis ... electrics/
This explains what is required regarding new electrical installations.

[les]

Thanks Richard, there are a few points in the link that were not on the sites I have already looked at, so very helpful.

[MarkyB]

These rules have been introduced to help reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty installations.

At last, an end to the dreadful carnage
It would be interesting to see how much more dangerous 3rd world countries are in this respect.


I'm afraid there are too many people employed to write regulations and vested interests in running training courses and issuing certificates.


No, I'm not saying anything should be allowed, just that more laws and regulations aren't always a good thing.

Sometimes it feels like we will all end up eating baby food to reduce the number of cutlery related deaths and injuries

[Matt]

Just for those who are un-aware

SWA = Steel Wire Armoured

If you are buring - its the only sort you should use

[mobylette]

I had this done recently. They used 6mm SWA. At the house end they ran the SWA into the building (so no waterproof connection required) & then connected to 6mm twin and earth standard cable (usually used domestically for electric cookers) to make life easier when running this to the consumer unit. At the shed end the SWA was terminated at a new consumer unit, and thence to the various socket and lighting circuits.

Before this work was done I was using a long extension cable (150ft). When I fired up my circular saw, the fluorescent lights would go out. Not condusive to keeping ones fingers

[les]

Thanks for that info, did you have to have it inspected?

[mobylette]

Extract from building regs:'

All work that involves adding a new circuit to a dwelling, or electrical work in kitchens and bathrooms or in 'special locations' (see table) will need to be either notified to Building Control with a building regulation application or carried out by a competent person who is registered with a Part P Self-Certification Scheme.

Use an electrician/installer who is registered with a Competent Person's scheme, in which case a building regulation application will not be required for the electrical work. .

So if you get the job done by a properly registered electrician, he will issue a certificate, and there is no need for building regs or an inspection.

[les]

Thanks, so I either pay for a building regs application and do the work myself or pay a qualified electrician to complete. I'll do the latter although I'll dig the trench to save a bit. All this will be after the garage gets underway. At least I'm clearer now thanks to everyones help.

[bmcecosse]

If it's bothering you (and it wouldn't bother me...) dig trench/bury cable/prepare all the ends etc - and let an 'electrician' finish it off for you....

[les]

Exactly what I had in mind Roy.

[mobylette]

Quite right, but don't cover the cable . No electrician will/should certify an installation unless they can see all the cabling. It is their job on the line if it all goes bang.

[MarkyB]

A receipt for the cable and a small section left uncovered should be enough for the most mistrustful.
Ideally find the electrician first and have a word, they might be able to get a better deal on the cable.

[les]

Good thinking Mark.

[bigjim]

being an electrician , 6.0mm swa cable is good for 45a breaker in house feeding to small fuse box in garage where you can then run all individual lights , sockets etc , i run an 8 way fusebox in my garage feeding garage lights ,gardenlights ,sheds ,ring main,2x 16a sockets for compressor welder etc , water heater and hottub,what we call diversity is allowed you dont have to total everything up because you probably arent going to use everything at once for instance if im in the hot tub with a beer im not in the garage using the welder.

[les]

Thanks Jim for posting your advice, I think I have decided on 6mm cable. I would like a separate fuse box in the garage then, as you say, lights and power can be taken from that.

[POMMReg]

Make sure it's raining and your garden is flooded first!

Last week was excellent for outside electrical DIY work!!

[les]

Now Now, just because the number fairy fell asleep while you were only on page two.