Wiring to sheds

[dmahon]

What's the best way of wiring up three sheds to the mains? I'm planning on getting someone in to do the actual connections to the consumer box at each end, but I'll dig the trench(es) myself beforehand and probably buy the materials. The sheds are approximately 15m, 40m and 50m from the house respectively.

I take it that these would be wired up as a radial circuit, with a consumer unit in each building for lights/mains? The closest shed may be pulled down in future - would it be best to wire them all up directly to the consumer box in the house rather than have them daisy chained one from the other? Then it won't be a problem when the closest shed gets pulled down in a few years.

Can I do this with just one RCBO in the consumer unit or would each shed need its own? Can each shed be wired directly to the RCBO (ie 3 wires into one RCBO), or do I need another consumer unit placed at the exit of the wiring from the house, with 3 seperate MCBs in it, one to each shed?

What size cable and RCBO do I need? I know the cable is going to be expensive.

 

[HandySparks]

Welcome to the forums. Who's got the popcorn?

 

[durhamspark]

Best to ask your spark to have a look and work out a design .

 

[Guest55]

does anybody ever use the effing search function for this topic ?

 

[dan86]

I bet by the time I go to bed tonight a d come on here tomorrow there's at least 2 pages of replies. no more than 3 of them will be on topic!

That said, welcome to the forum dmahon

 

[highspark]

If the first one is to be knocked down it makes sense to have them all on their own circuits. I.e 3 RCBO's at main CU.

Cable sizes will be determined by calculation. Length of run etc.

This needs a qualified electrician to design it for you.

 

[Des 56]

You are getting a spark to connect ?
Get the spark to dig the trench then you'll get more time to do these cable calculations all by yourself

Look on the bright side he will at least be put to good use

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

You know to much terminology to be a bog standard DIY or homeowner!

"Radial"...."RCBO"

 

[durhamspark]

You know to much terminology to be a bog standard DIY or homeowner!

"Radial"...."RCBO"

And joined the forum in 2011 . This jobs been a while in the planning stage

 

[TaffyDuck]

What's the best way of wiring up three sheds to the mains? I'm planning on getting someone in to do the actual connections to the consumer box at each end, but I'll dig the trench(es) myself beforehand and probably buy the materials. The sheds are approximately 15m, 40m and 50m from the house respectively.

I take it that these would be wired up as a radial circuit, with a consumer unit in each building for lights/mains? The closest shed may be pulled down in future - would it be best to wire them all up directly to the consumer box in the house rather than have them daisy chained one from the other? Then it won't be a problem when the closest shed gets pulled down in a few years.

Can I do this with just one RCBO in the consumer unit or would each shed need its own? Can each shed be wired directly to the RCBO (ie 3 wires into one RCBO), or do I need another consumer unit placed at the exit of the wiring from the house, with 3 seperate MCBs in it, one to each shed?

What size cable and RCBO do I need? I know the cable is going to be expensive.

No electrician likes digging holes. Save some cash by doing that but before hand get the guy who will be instaaling it to pop in, design it and then you can sleep tight knowing that when the whole system is energised you wont find yourself with just enough voltage to run a table lamp at the far end. It will be cheaper in the long run trust me.

 

[G power]

Hi , def agree you need a spark in to have a look- there's a few ways of achieving what you want - and loads of factors to take into account - the design in my opinion is the most important.

 

[dmahon]

Best to ask your spark to have a look and work out a design .

I don't have one yet.

One of the reasons I'm asking what the best way of doing it here is to make sure the one I get is going to do the right thing. They could tell me just to connect it all up to the existing outdoor socket and how would I know any different? The last one I had seemed to do a decent job, but I've heard since (from a builder friend) that his recent work hasn't been so good and it was suggested I ought to try someone else.

 

[durhamspark]

Get a few round for an estimate and ask them how they'll do it . You'll get a feel for whether they're any good or not

 

[HandySparks]

I don't have one yet.

So if you reveal where you are, someone on here might be close enough to pop round, find out what's required and give you a quote.

 

[dmahon]

I joined prior to the last job (which was an outdoor socket plus another garage socket, wired into the existing garage ring). In the end I don't think I posted, I just used the search function to get the info I needed. I supplied the equipment (to match all existing sockets/switches/trunking) and the electrician wired it up - it involved wiring to the consumer unit and also some crimping to extend the existing cable. I paid him a for a morning's work.


This job has indeed been a while coming, mainly because I've been saving up £5k for the two new outbuildings, but I am most definately DIY. I've done some minor wiring before and prior to regulation changes I would have been happy to do this myself (apart from the main consumer unit, which I would probably have done unhappily) with instruction, but believe I'm not allowed to - although I'm told the regulations are changing and I could just connect it myself to the existing outdoor socket after April (but although the power requirement will actually be quite small, I think it would be better to be seperate).


I do (just) have room for 3 more connections, but my current consumer unit would then be completely full. Maybe it would be better with a second unit just for the outbuildings?

 

[Octopus]

I think at this point we should all decline to post any further input to this thread.

 

[dmahon]

I think at this point we should all decline to post any further input to this thread.

OK sorry, I seem to have misunderstood. I presume this forum is meant for electricians only or something. Can someone point me in the direction of a forum where normal people can get advice about electrical work?

 

[Octopus]

OK sorry, I seem to have misunderstood. I presume this forum is meant for electricians only or something. Can someone point me in the direction of a forum where normal people can get advice about electrical work?

As you rightly point out this is a forum for people who sell their professional services to earn a living. WHY ON EARTH would we give you information to hurt you or your family.

Open your wallet and pay for the job to be done correctly.

 

[micknew]

I think at this point we should all decline to post any further input to this thread.

Dead right Murdock.
Another DIYer trying to pick brains and do a job on the cheap.

 

[micknew]

OK sorry, I seem to have misunderstood. I presume this forum is meant for electricians only or something. Can someone point me in the direction of a forum where normal people can get advice about electrical work?

Ask the guy in B&q where u get the cable for advice.
This forum is not for DIYers like you.
Normal intelligent people employ an electrician.