Wiring to Cabin from House?

[jt123]

Morning All,

Wondered if anybody could give me some advice.
We've recently moved into a new property and are having a cabin built at the end of the garden which is about 6 meters away from the house. I am looking to get some power in there for a light, 400W heater, and also run a water pump for the pond (plus an extra socket or two for a radio etc).

With the property being new the Consumer unit is located at the front of the house, and taking a feed directly from this with an additional MCB is just not going to be possible due to the layout of the property, and new decor!
My plan is to spur off the downstairs sockets ring main through the wall using 6mm T+E cable, terminated into a Wiska style junction box where it'll connect onto some 6mm SWA cable to run underground and into a 3 way garage consumer unit with RCD protection in the cabin. From that I'll have two MCB's on the unit , one for the light and one for the sockets.

Does this sound like a safe plan? I know what the proper way would be and if there was any way we would. But the location of the Unit in the house just won't allow running a new cable without extensive redecorating.

I am pretty competent with DIY electrics but never go ahead until I've sought professional advice, so I will be getting an electrician in to run this past first either way.

Really appreciate any help

 

[Risteard]

No.

 

[Spoon]

Welcome to the forum mate.
Have you posted this before, under a different name... I'll see if I can find it.

Can you not get a cable from the CU, around the outside of the house, then to the cabin?
What earthing system does your house have?
Does the cabin have any metal fittings of copper pipes going to it?
Why 6mm cable.
2 RCD in series will cause problems... depending on the type of RCD's. (I presume your CU have RCD protection)

Power and lighting to garden shed - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/power-and-lighting-to-garden-shed.124120/
This was the thread I was thinking of...

 

[Pete999]

Morning All,

Wondered if anybody could give me some advice.
We've recently moved into a new property and are having a cabin built at the end of the garden which is about 6 meters away from the house. I am looking to get some power in there for a light, 400W heater, and also run a water pump for the pond (plus an extra socket or two for a radio etc).

With the property being new the Consumer unit is located at the front of the house, and taking a feed directly from this with an additional MCB is just not going to be possible due to the layout of the property, and new decor!
My plan is to spur off the downstairs sockets ring main through the wall using 6mm T+E cable, terminated into a Wiska style junction box where it'll connect onto some 6mm SWA cable to run underground and into a 3 way garage consumer unit with RCD protection in the cabin. From that I'll have two MCB's on the unit , one for the light and one for the sockets.

Does this sound like a safe plan? I know what the proper way would be and if there was any way we would. But the location of the Unit in the house just won't allow running a new cable without extensive redecorating.

I am pretty competent with DIY electrics but never go ahead until I've sought professional advice, so I will be getting an electrician in to run this past first either way.

Really appreciate any help

Not a good idea to do what you are suggesting, very bad design.

 

[Wilko]

Low impact version is a proper extension cord that you run out when you need it (from a circuit with RCD protection) or in my humble opinion it's a new circuit. It may seem easier to Frankenstein it, but it's just not a good idea .

 

[Pete999]

Welcome to the forum mate.
Have you posted this before, under a different name... I'll see if I can find it.

Can you not get a cable from the CU, around the outside of the house, then to the cabin?
What earthing system does your house have?
Does the cabin have any metal fittings of copper pipes going to it?
Why 6mm cable.
2 RCD in series will cause problems... depending on the type of RCD's. (I presume your CU have RCD protection)

Power and lighting to garden shed - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/power-and-lighting-to-garden-shed.124120/
This was the thread I was thinking of...

Bit of an age gap on the poster Spoon????

 

[Spoon]

Low impact version is a proper extension cord that you run out when you need it (from a circuit with RCD protection) or in my humble opinion it's a new circuit. It may seem easier to Frankenstein it, but it's just not a good idea .

He wants to run a water pump from it, so I presume he will want it running most of the time....
Will have to wait until the OP gets back to us with more info, so we can advise better.

 

[Spoon]

Bit of an age gap on the poster Spoon????

Not checked out age mate??? and its a different scenario...

 

[Drew34]

That's the way I would do it. Mainly because I'm also clueless and don't care for safety or regs.

 

[Pete999]

Not checked out age mate??? and its a different scenario...

Yes agree was just letting you know, one was 21 the other 64

 

[Spoon]

Yes agree was just letting you know, one was 21 the other 64

lmao.... not much of a difference....

My body feels 64 but my brain 21....

I never go and check out their info... maybe I should do that more often..

 

[Pete999]

lmao.... not much of a difference....

My body feels 64 but my brain 21....

I never go and check out their info... maybe I should do that more often..

If you're busy that's understandable, me nothing much to do, hence my attempt at a Colombo impersonation

 

[jt123]

Welcome to the forum mate.
Have you posted this before, under a different name... I'll see if I can find it.

Can you not get a cable from the CU, around the outside of the house, then to the cabin?
What earthing system does your house have?
Does the cabin have any metal fittings of copper pipes going to it?
Why 6mm cable.
2 RCD in series will cause problems... depending on the type of RCD's. (I presume your CU have RCD protection)

Power and lighting to garden shed - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/power-and-lighting-to-garden-shed.124120/
This was the thread I was thinking of...

Thanks for your replies. No, we couldn't run the cable round the house as it's not detached, It's a townhouse in between two others

Not too sure on the Earthing system, sorry.
No metal fittings or copper pipes in the cabin.
6mm only because I've done a bit of research prior and from what I can see majority say use 6mm cable or above for future proofing (I've probably misunderstood)
This is what I was planning to fit in the cabin: British General 5-Module 3-Way Populated Garage Consumer Unit - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/british-general-5-module-3-way-populated-garage-consumer-unit/1926g#product_additional_details_container

again, thanks for your help.
PS- I think I entered my DOB wrong. I'm 31, not 21 Wish I was!

 

[Spoon]

If you're busy that's understandable, me nothing much to do, hence my attempt at a Colombo impersonation

I love Colombo.... Don't get scared now mate.. unless you look like him..

 

[Pete999]

I love Colombo.... Don't get scared now mate.. unless you look like him..

Takes all sorts

 

[Octopus]

I've just bought a bag of popcorn, this one's going be fun

 

[Spoon]

I've just bought a bag of popcorn, this one's going be fun

I don't know what you mean... What could possibly go wrong..

We are here to help OP... Just need your feedback on the questions...

 

[HandySparks]

... one was 21...

Really?
I thought that the only info was that his birthday is on September 21st.

 

[HandySparks]

If you really must supply the outbuilding from the house socket circuit, do it via a 13A switched fused connection unit in the house, with another one rated at 3A in the outbuilding to supply the lights.

(Assuming that the existing socket circuit is 30mA RCD protected and no extraneous metalwork in the outbuilding.)

 

[Pete999]

Really?
I thought that the only info was that his birthday is on September 21st.

Mistake on my part then

 

[Spoon]

Why cant someone on here invent 'Bluetooth Mains Sockets' Then job done.. Just imagine how easy life will be.......

 

[Spoon]

talking rubbish so deleted this.....

 

[Wilko]

Why cant someone on here invent 'Bluetooth Mains Sockets' Then job done.. Just imagine how easy life will be.......

802.11 mate - wifi will solve this surely?

 

[Spoon]

Thanks for your replies. No, we couldn't run the cable round the house as it's not detached, It's a townhouse in between two others

Not too sure on the Earthing system, sorry.
No metal fittings or copper pipes in the cabin.
6mm only because I've done a bit of research prior and from what I can see majority say use 6mm cable or above for future proofing (I've probably misunderstood)
This is what I was planning to fit in the cabin: British General 5-Module 3-Way Populated Garage Consumer Unit - https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/british-general-5-module-3-way-populated-garage-consumer-unit/1926g#product_additional_details_container

again, thanks for your help.
PS- I think I entered my DOB wrong. I'm 31, not 21 Wish I was!

Hi OP.
You are intending to wire to an existing ring mains circuit. The max current you can have is 32A... (If a 32A breaker is fitted at the house CU)
Have you tried wiring 6mm into a socket that already has two 2.5mm cables in?
2 RCD's of the same type, in series, is bad.
How is the cable going to be installed between your house and cabin?

 

[Spoon]

802.11 mate - wifi will solve this surely?

Is that in Amendment 4?

 

[Taylortwocities]

I will be getting an electrician in to run this past first either way.

I don't want to be negative, but your option is to find your electrician and have him tell you what he/she needs to do. Any advice on an Internet forum will be guesswork at best.

At the end of the day it will be your electrician who signs the document that says they DESIGNED, INSTALLED and TESTED the whole enchilada.

 

[telectrix]

during a recent time warp, i went to the year 2225 where i discovered that my great,great,great........... great grandson invents a tri-lithium ion power supply that will power a double socket for 25 years. just needs a 47mm back box to house it behind the socket. wireless sockets are the future.

 

[Pete999]

I don't want to be negative, but your option is to find your electrician and have him tell you what he/she needs to do. Any advice on an Internet forum will be guesswork at best.

At the end of the day it will be your electrician who signs the document that says they DESIGNED, INSTALLED and TESTED the whole enchilada.

Unless of course, it's Kev the electrician from down the pub, qualified to part "Mines a pint mate no worries, me and Kev Jr will do that"

 

[jt123]

I've been in contact with an Electrician friend today who came round pretty swiftly to have a look, he's advised me what'd be involved and has found a suitable route to run an SWA cable from the CU in the house. As I said, it's a townhouse, the consumer unit is just inside the front door next to the garage. He's suggested to go through the wall into the garage and through the ceiling of the garage and into the Kitchen above under the kitchen cupboards. From there, through the external wall and out into the garden where it'll run underground to the cabin. Where there's a will there's a way!
When I get an ETA for the cabin to arrive I'll be having him round to do the work I think.
Thank you for all your replies

 

[Taylortwocities]

There’s a money-saving opportunity right there. Get digging the half metre deep trench for the cable.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Unless of course, it's Kev the electrician from down the pub, qualified to part "Mines a pint mate no worries, me and Kev Jr will do that"

Somebody mention me??

 

[westward10]

The ceiling of your garage is part of a fire compartment and will need to be correctly sealed where the cable passes through.

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

Make sure you get it delivered when your sparky friend isn’t on holidaybobs!

 

[electricbill]

Hi...to be honest your plan for a new circuit sounds like a bit of an overkill. All you need to do is fit a 13a FCU (spur) at the socket in the house and then run out 2.5mm SWA to the cabin for your sockets. You can then fit another 3a FCU for your lights. You will have enough power for what you need and it is a lot simpler.

To avoid any de-decoration work inside the house you could even fit a decent make weatherproof FCU on the outside of the house. As it is a new house I assume you have RCD protection at the CCU if not a RCD spur should be used.

Hope that helps.