Setting Up Semi-Permanent Electricity To Shed?

[N0body Of The Goat]

As some of you may have read, I recently won Nelly's old 5x2x2 tank on Ebay within days of him selling it to someone else (along with fish and equipment). I live in a first floor maisonette and so I am not prepared to risk close to 750Kg of tank upstairs, even if it goes over four or even five joists!

Upon collecting the tank and stand, they were placed in the garage "dry", with the plan of using it when we move or my active youngsters that will grow to 15cm start looking too cramped in my Rio240. Well if I'm being honest with myself, I think the Barilius (~6cm); Opsarius (~10cm) and denisonii (~6cm) to a lesser extent will need this longer/bigger tank before the end of summer, which means setting things up in the garage. However, there are no electric points down there at present...

As we rent the flat, I'm looking to provide electricity down there by the cheapest method that will conform to regulations on such matters. In a very brief "google" the other day, it looked as if it requires weather/UV-proof conduit casing, which needs to cross open ground at a depth of ~18". This sounds very expensive for what will be <500 Watts per hour when the heater has to kick in (which should not be too often, given these fish are happy at temperatures as low as 16C in their natural habitat) on top of filtration and lighting.

I would look to hear from anyone who has embarked on anything similar, especially from the UK...

 

[JoshuaA]

Closest I've done was install a plug socket outside of our garage, to bury the cable I just used a spade and dug it down vertical then jumped up and down on it for a bit until it dug down the full depth, did that the whole way to where I wanted it and then placed the wire into the gap and prodded it down then stamped on the soil to "seal" the ground back up.

It was removed some time ago but was rather difficult to get the cable out without damaging it as the grass and weeds had rooted in the soil and bind'd it back together.

There isn't going to be anyone checking the depth of your cable, so just be smart when you're doing something in the garden... for example don't go stabbing pitch forks down into the ground haha.

Good Luck!

I look forward to seeing your method!

 

[rdp50734]

How far is it from your flat to the shed? Depending on distance and the voltage your going to be pulling you may get away with just an extension lead. If it is quite far and is accessible to members of the public and or residents of the flats then it need encasing in trunking and be on its own remote circuit breaker (trip switch). Need some more details to be able to fully advise you. Feel free to pm me if you want. Ps if its quite a distance you will need the landlords permission.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The shed is ~5 metres away from our maisonette in the block of four, with the back garden and car park around the shed being park of our flat's sole property, in essence this flat has sole rights to all outdoor sections between us and the garage.

I would need to check, but from having just looked out of the flat window, it looks as if the garage window (facing our kitchen window) has a seperate top section that might open, perhaps allowing the possiblity of a suspended cable? Obviously, taking this route would require the cable to be resistant to the odd sunshine and mostly rain that beams down on not-so-sunny-Southampton!

(That's if it even a viable option)

 

[rdp50734]

I don't think you could suspend it as it is 240V but you could put say a wooden beam 2" x1 1/2" between the flat and shed and mount the cable to it you know with the 'U' shaped clips? Mount the beam with 2 'L' shaped brackets and job done. It should only cost £10 ish for materials excluding the cable and can be removed when you move out! It still needs to be on a breaker though be it inline or on the trip board in the flat if you have any spare 'ways'?!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hmm, sounds interesting, but we may have another issue...

The fuse board is archaic, as in fuse wires between screws!

Thanks for all the input from everyone so far, its certainly given me some food for thought

 

[rdp50734]

Do you know any sparkies? If so you can wire in a breaker off one of the existing tails (incoming) then out to the shed!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Not long been back home after finally visiting World Of Water in Romsey, who have opened my eyes up to a very intresting solution to my electric problem...

Blagdon Powersafe 5/10/15/20m supply kits!

They had a 15m kit for £140, but Aquacadabra's Ebay store does the 20m kit for £93-95 with free p+p!

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLAGDON-POWERSAFE-20m-ARMOURED-POWER-SUPPLY-KIT-PSAK20-/220481186282?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PondsWaterFeatures_UK

The entire kit is modular, so the 3 hardwired outlet box can be replaced with a four or five version, or even have an outlet converted into a tradition 3-pin double socket... Sounds perfect for the job. No digging trenches, no need to tack cable on walls and when we do move its a doddle to disconnect from the kitchen socket and take with us.

 

[walkers101]

how have i messed this? please tell me you have no bought that

all you need is twin and earth from a spare way in the dis board suspend the cable over 6ft high (to be legal) and away you go

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The Blagdon Powersafe kit has been running for about a month now. Last week, I upgraded the kit's 3-way switch to a 5-way. An absolute doddle to setup, given my work history as being a white goods driver/installer before being a postie, so hardwiring heaters; filters; powerhead was second nature (albeit that this is now off as I rule it out as a possible cause of stress-induced death for two of my beloved Humphead Glassfish); leaving a spare socket for lighting as funds materialize.

The kits included RCD which plugs into a kitchen electric socket, which I believe means that everything is "above board" as far as regs go.