power supply to barn conversion?

RockyKildare · Jan 8, 2017

Currently converting a barn on our farm which is attatched to my parents house. I own the barn and in partnership with my dad. We will be looking to sort the electricity out soon and we're planning to connect onto my parents supply and install a meter. Is this possible or will we need a separate connection? Transformer is 300 metres away, currently run on poles. Have a friend who is a electrician and said 100 amp supply to my parents would be enough for our place as well, as long as we have a gas oven and hob and no power shower. Advice???

antares100 · Jan 8, 2017

I think they will give you a separate supply from the transformer.you could probably just hook up with the original supply and split the bill or whatever.

Lincsman · Jan 8, 2017

Where does the supply start at the buildings, ie fuse and meter?... I would spilt the supply there and run a new cable to the conversion (after your own meter), then an upgrade is easy to do in the future.

RockyKildare · Jan 8, 2017

The supply starts at the corner of my parents house then goes into there broom cupboard where the fuse board/distribution board is. From there it is split with a 80amp fuse for the house and then a 60amp fuse for the farm buildings. The yard has now been moved though so there is no farm building taking a supply anymore. Just the barn I'm converting. Got power in there already.

I'm thinking legally the supplier will want me on a seperate supply. Just have a feeling there gonna want about £20,000 for a supply, which is sh!t when I know there is plenty next door

Lincsman · Jan 8, 2017

Is the barn using the existing 60 amp fuse line? if so just carry on using it but making sure you can fit a new supply into the barn conversion without major modification in the future, ie, build an electric supply box with a hockey stick duct to the ground via the cavity (available from builders merchants) into the outer wall, putting your own meter in there if you wish.
Using Led lights and other energy saving stuff will run on 60 amp no problem.

RockyKildare · Jan 8, 2017

Yes it is. We were planning on taking meter reading and paying my parents for what we use, but can see the electric company not liking that. If we tell them I can see them saying that the supply is not good enough for a property, although it's done the farm fine for the last 60 years including powering welders, roller mills etc. Would we need our own supply to get the electrics signed off? And would we be doing anything illegal not notifying the power supplier??

Lincsman · Jan 8, 2017

Building regs will want the electrical installation signed off, (as it would if you rewired the kitchen in the house) but i see no reason that the supply company need to be told unless the electrician has doubts about its capacity, but the worst that can happen is you blow the fuse.
But as i said plan the installation as if it will need an upgrade then it will be no big deal in the future if it does.

Doing it for the kids · Jan 8, 2017

As above, if you are letting then use existing.

If selling they will want a seperate mpan, make sure supply cable from house to barn is big enough

Still Farming · Jan 9, 2017

All depends on your electricity distribution company and if transformer big enough ?
What size is it ?

RockyKildare · Jan 9, 2017

I don't know what size the transformer is. Didn't want to contact the electricity distribution company as have a feeling they will say have to have a new connection and then I'm buggerd!!!!

Mur Huwcun · Jan 9, 2017

Your electrician should be able to calculate how much your conversion will draw, if you had a 60A supply to outbuildings before it should easily manage the conversion if you're not using powershowers, electric heaters snd such. Your cooker will be the biggest draw but you mentioned a gas one? As said set it up to be able to connect to pole at later date. You can fit another meter on the line if you want to, it won't be calibrated but will give you an idea of usage. If your sparky fits a 60A rcd submain it should trip that before blowing the power company fuse anyhow. 60A should be good for around 12kw draw

Still Farming · Jan 9, 2017

RockyKildare said:
I don't know what size the transformer is. Didn't want to contact the electricity distribution company as have a feeling they will say have to have a new connection and then I'm buggerd!!!!

They can't refuse but will charge as said but if you knacker or overload they won't like that ither ?
Does the transformer have two or three wires on pole ?

Y Fan Wen · Jan 9, 2017

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electrici...179699?hash=item230efae7b3:g:cdMAAOxyGStRvwbm

Lincsman · Jan 9, 2017

Still Farming said:
They can't refuse but will charge as said but if you knacker or overload they won't like that ither ?
Does the transformer have two or three wires on pole ?

They fitted 80 and 60 amp fuses for two outputs long ago, nothing has changed, its only an issue if the 60 amp fuse blows indicating too much load, very doubtful it would without electric showers or cooking hob (an oven takes very little electricity)

My yard (lights welder compressor) and large house with power and 10KW showers along with electric hob etc etc run from 1 x 100 amp fuse split into 2 meters (domestic and commercial) and has never blown that i know of.

RockyKildare · Jan 9, 2017

Thanks for all the replys guys.
I'm not to worried about their being enough juice, it's more the legality of it. As the farm house and building are in my dads name, and the barn conversion is in mine, we were worried that we could be fined by the electric board for an illegal connection into our neighbours (as that is effectively what they are in a legal sense) and not informing them.

I do a lot of work on the sewers for Welsh water and know that if you tap into your neighbours foul system with out permission from Welsh water you can be fined, very heavily, so assumed it would be the same for electric?

Lincsman · Jan 9, 2017

Has the (Old) yard and house got 2 bills (ie 2 mpans)?, if so change the name on one

RockyKildare · Jan 9, 2017

Just the one bill.

Lincsman · Jan 9, 2017

RockyKildare said:
Just the one bill.

You will be OK while things are as they are now, the issue will have to be resolved at some point when ownerships change, then someone will have to pay for a new connection, VERY much doubt it will take anymore than cable and a meter though. You need to predict the future on this!

simon-0116 · Jan 10, 2017

As long as you paying bills they won't care. Only needs signing off if building controlled involved / mortgage / sell it.

power supply to barn conversion?

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