Power to shed – what piping / hose etc?

Im want to run power to the shed from the outside plug. Over a distance of 8 metres. I would like to burry under the lawn (not laid yet). Whats the best way to do it? Piping? Hose? etc etc

Armoured cable

Armoured cable, either run it along a wall/fence, or you could bury it a foot deep inside steel conduit pipe.

Arent there lots of boring electrical regulations now around this kind of thing?

Arent there lots of boring electrical regulations now around this kind of thing?

Yep. If it’s a permanent connection it is subject to Part P of the building regs requiring it to be signed off. If it’s an extension lead, then no. (I know, no logic.).

If I were doing it properly, I’d run a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, not RCD protected if possible, via suitably sized armoured cable (for voltage drop and expected load) to the shed. Put in a garage consumer unit at the shed with RCD protection and mcbs for sockets and lights.

Armoured cable should be 600mm deep with “danger electrical cable” warning tape a few centimeters above it.

Is there structural steel/copper water pipes in the shed? Depending on the earthing system you may want to fit an earth rod.

If you’re doing it on the cheap, run an extension lead underground in plastic conduit buried 600mm or so. Again, use electrical tape to mark the route. 13a plug in a waterproof external socket on the side of the
building.

Want a compromise? Run armoured cable to the shed, suitably sized. Gland off in an adaptable box at the side of the house by the external socket. Connect via 13A plug to adaptable box. Put garage consumer unit in shed. Better than the cheap option in that it future proofs the bit which is expensive and disruptive ie digging up the lawn to replace the cable. Using the external socket, probably run off the house ring circuit, will run the risk of tripping the house RCD in a fault situation. You’ll also only have 13A of supply power but that’s probably ok if it’s a small shed.

In summary, loads of ways. Happy to advise if you want more info.

Rich.

What are you going to use it for? I’ve got power in our log cabin provided by a solar panel, leisure battery and appropriate charging doodad. Use this to power 12v lights in it. Self contained, no cables to run, fuss free.

Armoured cable on its own or armoured cable in conduit. Don’t under any circumstances run it pipe that could be mistaken for water pipe or drainage.

What are the rules regarding running cables above ground? e.g. clipped to fence gravel boards?

Ive got a standard plastic conduit pinned to my party wall, which runs into the house through a small hole in the wall. the shed just “plugs in” to an existing socket via an RCD plug. used a waterproof exterior pattress/socket inside the shed.

600mm deep 8O.
Just dig it in a bit, it’s armoured for Christmas sake.

Depending upon the water pressure in your area you could actually use pipes or hoses. Place a large water tank over your garage or shed, you could then release the water into a mini hydro driven turbo generator, voila no need for any silly armoured cables and such like, good luck.

What are the rules regarding running cables above ground? e.g. clipped to fence gravel boards?

Just needs to be supported so it’s secure.

This is my system (all signed off)

Workshop Electrics 1 by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Workshop Electrics 2 by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

I split the main consumer unit to put the workshop on a separate isolator with a switch and RCD. Then ran 10mm2 cable in a 25mm steel conduit down the fence:

Untitled by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Kitchen end by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

In the workshop I put a new Consumer Unit

Workshop Consumer Unit by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

which power all the various circuits inside and out

Surface wiring in 20mm PVC pipe by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Outdoor sockets by Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Ben,
The 100mA RCD in the house needs to be an S curve to stop nuisance tripping.
Rich.

Still chuckling at the 600 mm bit. I’ve put 10000 volters in at that.

Ben,
The 100mA RCD in the house needs to be an S curve to stop nuisance tripping.
Rich.

Not had any nuisance tripping in 2 years.

Whole things works very well, the workshop only trips the local RCD and the one in the house never trips (unless you force a fault before the consumer unit).

This is my system (all signed off)

Quite surprised that got signed off. No way would I do it that way.

Jesus. That’s for all the very detailed replies. It’s a new build and I don’t want to mess around with it too much. I have an outdoor socket and only want to power a lamp and maybe laptop. As money’s tight size buying the house I will prob just wait a while. Cheers folks.

Quite surprised that got signed off. No way would I do it that way.

Fully compliant with the regs.