what size of Armoured cable

[radiantsnout]

Hi to all first please may I point out that I am an avid DIY person but know my limits. I would like to know from all you very experienced people out there what size of Armoured cable to use to put power to my steel container, i am in the process of turning it into a work space and a Sauna I envisage that the Sauna would need 10 k watts to power it as for the rest of the load it would just be normal hand tools and a small lighting circuit which would not need be used whilst the Sauna is in use. I would point out that I would be using a qualified electrician to connect up but I can dig the trench to the correct depth and lay the cable as that is just labour . Hope that sorts out my input in this .
So my distance from the container to my house is 30m can any body advise what diameter of Armoured cable to use to ensure I get the power needed for the power needed.
Very kind regards
Adrian

 

[Pete999]

Hi to all first please may I point out that I am an avid DIY person but know my limits. I would like to know from all you very experienced people out there what size of Armoured cable to use to put power to my steel container, i am in the process of turning it into a work space and a Sauna I envisage that the Sauna would need 10 k watts to power it as for the rest of the load it would just be normal hand tools and a small lighting circuit which would not need be used whilst the Sauna is in use. I would point out that I would be using a qualified electrician to connect up but I can dig the trench to the correct depth and lay the cable as that is just labour . Hope that sorts out my input in this .
So my distance from the container to my house is 30m can any body advise what diameter of Armoured cable to use to ensure I get the power needed for the power needed.
Very kind regards
Adrian

Get your Electrician to specify the SWA cable required, discuss with him/her the best route, and go from there, it make little sense for you to supply the cable without doing any cable calculations, involving yourself at this stage is a good idea, but don't assume you will be saving any costs by buying the cable without input from the Electrician, oh and it's CSA (cross sectional area of the cable) not the diameter you should be concerned with.

 

[Deleted account]

I would guess at 25 mm , but without doing the proper calcs I wouldn’t like to confirm that. It may be more.

A site visit would be required and extensive cable calcs at home with all the appropriate correction factors and disconnection times supplied in my BBB (regs book).
I always document and supply my customers with these calcs to cover my ---.

Where are you based. Someone on the forum may be close and can pop along.

I charge £50 for this service. Others may differ.

 

[Andy78]

You need to involve an electrician at this stage to design the installation so you can install the supply cable. No electrician worth their salt will connect it up and take responsibility of the job if involved after it is done.

Trying to work out the size yourself using internet advice is much more likely to see you wasting money by either using a cable too small that has to be replaced or a cable too big that was unnecessarily expensive.

 

[Toneyz]

I would engage the services of an electrician who is going to design and install it for you. I would need more info than the load to work out a compliant cable size. You could always install a duct with a draw rope.

 

[Aurai]

A note of caution, but I am very happy to be advised as well. The whole notion of supplying power to a metal box, is a challenge in its own right. We have this at our club, where old containers get brought in as work shops and they are quite specialised to sort out the electrical safety.

 

[davesparks]

A note of caution, but I am very happy to be advised as well. The whole notion of supplying power to a metal box, is a challenge in its own right. We have this at our club, where old containers get brought in as work shops and they are quite specialised to sort out the electrical safety.

What's the challenge?
You just have to get the earthing right, but that's not particurlarly challenging.