UK Treehouse

[Madhatter2]

Morning all, I’ve been asked to provide power for a decent sized domestic tree house. Power useage will be lighting and 1 13a socket , to be used for powering radio, cd etc. Probably going to be fed via swa buried, with 30ma rcd on supply side. My question is should I add a supplemental earth, using earth rod, or treat it as a TT system, and protect the swa using existing TNCS. It’s a new one on me to power a treehouse.

 

[telectrix]

SWA itself does not need RCD protection. best fit rcd in treehouse. just dont have branch circuits.

 

[James]

Treat it like a garden shed.

Also, be aware that trees move in the wind, so consider using a more flexible cable for the final run from ground level to tree house.

Finally, remember that trees grow, in 5 years time the house could be a foot higher off the ground than it is now.

When running cable up tree, run it up in a wavy s type shape so as the tree grows, the cable straightens instead of pulling drum tight.

 

[littlespark]

Have the customers thought of battery powered lights and radios?

 

[davesparks]

Probably going to be fed via swa buried, with 30ma rcd on supply side. My question is should I add a supplemental earth, using earth rod, or treat it as a TT system, and protect the swa using existing TNCS. It’s a new one on me to power a treehouse.

What reason do you see for installing an earth rod?

 

[Pete999]

Morning all, I’ve been asked to provide power for a decent sized domestic tree house. Power useage will be lighting and 1 13a socket , to be used for powering radio, cd etc. Probably going to be fed via swa buried, with 30ma rcd on supply side. My question is should I add a supplemental earth, using earth rod, or treat it as a TT system, and protect the swa using existing TNCS. It’s a new one on me to power a treehouse.

You won't need an Earth, just TREE it lol, might need to bond the branches though.

 

[Madhatter2]

What reason do you see for installing an earth rod?

Supplementry earthing. Going tomorrow to check the job out, get distances from main house etc.

 

[davesparks]

Supplementry earthing. Going tomorrow to check the job out, get distances from main house etc.

Supplementary earthing? I can't say I've ever seen that in BS7671, can you explain a bit further?

 

[DPG]

I'd personally go for a solar and/or battery arrangement. Seems a lot of expense and work just to run a radio and light.

 

[telectrix]

I'd personally go for a solar and/or battery arrangement. Seems a lot of expense and work just to run a radio and light.

but next year they will want a £15Kkitchen,sauna and a 12.5kW shower. youknow what customers are like

 

[James]

but next year they will want a £15Kkitchen,sauna and a 12.5kW shower. youknow what customers are like

Good point, I would do it in 16mm for future proofing the installation.
Mind you, that is quite a lot to fit in a tree house, MUST BE A BIG TREE!!

 

[telectrix]

Good point, I would do it in 16mm for future proofing the installation.
Mind you, that is quite a lot to fit in a tree house, MUST BE A BIG TREE!!

i imagine if it was a small tree, it would have been a treehut, not a treehouse.

 

[Madhatter2]

i imagine if it was a small tree, it would have been a treehut, not a treehouse.

It’s definitely a tree house, not a tree hut!! I’m trying to get the customer to go for solar etc, but having just been sent some photos of the site, I’m hoping he’s going to go for solar etc. I don’t think he’ll want me digging up his immaculate lawn. But we’ll see tomorrow!!

Supplementary earthing? I can't say I've ever seen that in BS7671, can you explain a bit further?

I was thinking more of possibly setting it up as a TT system, without exporting the house CPC. Hopefully tomorrow’s site visit will enlighten me , more!
[automerge]1583425350[/automerge]

 

[DPG]

It’s definitely a tree house, not a tree hut!! I’m trying to get the customer to go for solar etc, but having just been sent some photos of the site, I’m hoping he’s going to go for solar etc. I don’t think he’ll want me digging up his immaculate lawn. But we’ll see tomorrow!!

I was thinking more of possibly setting it up as a TT system, without exporting the house CPC. Hopefully tomorrow’s site visit will enlighten me , more!
[automerge]1583425350[/automerge]

What's the reason for not using the house earth?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

When I was young, I drew up a design for the power switchboard for my proposed treehouse. It was all to be 12V, with a 100Ah battery in a box at ground level, charged by a car dynamo driven by a lawnmower engine (solar was not yet an option.) All the plans and cutting lists checked out and the project was ready to go. Fast forward to 2020, I still have the drawings in the loft somewhere, and given another ten or twenty years I reckon the tree will be big enough to start building.