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Hi,
Thinking about upgrading the garden shed. Previous owner installed a workbench and a pair of fairly dim light bulbs on a length of twin and earth with a 3 pin plug on the end. Light is by means of plugging them into an extension cable from the house.
I'd like to fit an led strip light, screwfix have outdoor rated for around £18.00 b it it's got me wondering if I can add a twin socket as well, IP66 rated sort of thing.
Using the 3 pin plug approach can I run that into a junction box, 1 feed to the light and the other to the socket?
Is this a safe approach? The shed will only be live when plugged in.
Thanks
Why are you putting outdoor rated stuff in your shed.
Is it convertable ? Does it leak ?
Sort of. You really need to fuse down for the lights. Run your existing cable into a double socket, then twin and earth from that to a fused switch. Then go from the switch to the lights. The fused switch will give you a lower value fuse for the lights and act as a light switch.
The twin and earth with a plug you have isn't ideal but will do the job
Length of 2.5 twin and earth, jb one end and plug other end to go into your extension lead supply. Two feeds from jb, one 2.5 to your new double socket and one 1.0mm to fuse spur light switch which in turn supplys led light. Stick a 3amp in it.
Eeerr RCD in house, armoured cable to shed, fused spur for lights.
Good point. You need an RCD somewhere. If the house socket it plugs into already has an RCD then fine (in the consumer unit). If not you need to add one.
Only 2 sockets 😯
You need to follow the socket/work area rule.
Take the number of sockets you initially think is needed and multiply that by 4. Then add 7 more.
If you need to ask about electrics then you need an electrician. By that I mean someone trained, qualfied, registered and regularly asessed. I am not an electrician.
Also not an electrician... however i am a Mechanical Engineer so i can safely specify Mechanical fixings required per back box and cable run if required.
Seriously if you have any doubts about this get a sparky.
@bensongd - Also not an electrician.
I would question if it’s worth adding double sockets if you are still using an extension lead from the house and not going for the full RCD protected armoured cable from your supply in a trench route? Need to think about the max rating for the extension lead especially if it’s long/partially wound.
I recently added two of these 3ft LED battens in my shed, now almost brighter than outside at 30watts and the colour of the light is great. It was simpler to use a 1.5mm2 flexible extension cable, 2-1 junction box, boot lace ferrules and end in a three pin plug with a 3amp fuse. Just like wiring up a lamp.
IP rated fittings need either round cables or special grommets for flat cables, or they are no longer IP rated.
Do you want this to be temporary? Basic but safe?( but illegal) or legal?
How far is it from Shed to house?
personally I would run a radial circuit from the house consumer unit in a trench or overhead using proper armoured outdoor cable and then fit a couple of sockets and a spur point for the lights. wouldn't be legal but would be safish
@tjagain - Good point on the shed distance.
Not sure on the middle ground though, if you are going to dig a trench or have overhead armoured cable from the house supply then why not pay an electrician and get them to certify it?
Unless it’s super temporary or within the regs, then it still would need undoing when he looks to sell/rent out in the future.
then it still would need undoing when he looks to sell/rent out in the future.
Its a bit of cable plugged into a socket. It won't be very hard to undo. I ran my shed like that for years before replacing it properly. Its not ideal but if you've got an RCD and a fuse then its pretty safe.
Weirdly in terms of legality the half arsed job of running it from a plug or spurring from a socket is allowed and can be DIYed. The proper job of running armoured cable back to the consumer unit needs proper sign off. That is in England. Rules are different in other parts of the UK
@nickjb - That was what I was suggesting really, keep on using an existing socket and temporary extension cable for occasional use like he is doing now. RCD protected and would work if the shed is not miles away from the house.
Touching the consumer units looks to add complications, how to isolate the supply, mains fuses and adding in new components if there is space for a dedicated RCD. I can see how the “proper way” is better but a lot more skilled to do.
Sure your local sparky would be happy for you to dig the trench though! 😂
kimura54321
Because its safeish but much cheaper / easier if you diy it
But then I do all my own electrics only paying to have them certified / checked if needed
YOu do not need to do anything difficult to attach to the consumer unit - the main switch is a two pole two throw so completely isolating the unit to allow connections.
Once again tho its something you do need to be very careful with and probably if you need to ask you need to pay a pro
@tjagain - Which makes perfect sense if you have the experience like you do, know it’s a modern consumer unit with a spare slot and have the time to do it.
The “if you need to ask” approach is a good one in this case I reckon 👍
Thanks all, it's a little 7x4 shed currently full of junk nothing fancy or workshop sized. Would only see occasional use when the weather is good. Adding sockets etc then running them off an extension feels like daisy chaining and a bad idea for no real benefit. Will replace the bulbs with an led but not fit sockets. Going to keep using the extension approach, as it can run the light and the dremel if required.
If I go ahead with a proper garden office / workshop a sparky will be used.
Cheers