Electric cable in sheds

[rob762]

Hi all,

Does anyone know what cable to use inside a shed for lights and sockets? can regular T&E be used or does it need to be in conduit also nym-j cable?

Thanks

 

[DanniAgro]

Are you planning to do the installation yourself, or use an electrician? As someone who does his own work, in a small shed I'd use T&E, but in a large one it's better to install single cables inside conduit. Most important is to calculate the size of cable needed carefully and do neat installation not scrimping on materials.

 

[milkloss]

T&E is fine but must be protected by a conduit. It might work out easier to use swa.

 

[rob762]

Planning to do it myself and not intending to scrimp want it to be a good job that conforms to the regs. I thought swa was mainly used for underground runs this is for sockets and lighting

 

[David.]

I think you will be fine with SY cable, properly clipped back to supporting batten where necessary, and glanded into the boxes and fittings.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Just done mine with the plastic 20mm conduit, I was fortunate enough to find loads of the fittings, clamps and elbows and glands etc in a skip after an istallation job at work!!! picked up the 3m conduits from Screwfix for a few pounds and I’d collected enough left over rolls of 2.5mm single cables from skips aswell!! It’s nuts what these contractors leave behind! I’ve a collection of the galv ones aswell if I can find a use for them...

 

[Cjm]

What’s the shed used for and is it on a Farm? It’s been a while since I did any electrical courses (2007?) and Farms were considered a special location particularly if livestock. T+E hardly ideal. Firetuf cable in white might work. Neat to install and the rodents might leave it alone

 

[br jones]

Conduit to stop the rats eating it

 

[Mur Huwcun]

What’s the shed used for and is it on a Farm? It’s been a while since I did any electrical courses (2007?) and Farms were considered a special location particularly if livestock. T+E hardly ideal. Firetuf cable in white might work. Neat to install and the rodents might leave it alone

we had a livestock/storage shed done by sparky two years ago that used T+E on high level and used SWA on the drops and fitted outdoor type sockets. Another shed done years ago has T+E but has a metal cable clip every so and so meter to support the cable during a fire!!

 

[Sharpy]

What’s the shed used for and is it on a Farm? It’s been a while since I did any electrical courses (2007?) and Farms were considered a special location particularly if livestock. T+E hardly ideal. Firetuf cable in white might work. Neat to install and the rodents might leave it alone

We have several sheds done in this type of material, works fine and as quick as t and e to install apart from the glands on fittings. Much quicker than conduit.

 

[milkloss]

Planning to do it myself and not intending to scrimp want it to be a good job that conforms to the regs. I thought swa was mainly used for underground runs this is for sockets and lighting

in an ag building all cables need to be protected from potential damage. At our recent visit we got a slapped wrist for t&e use for sockets (I never finished the job!). I'm not sure whether swa to roof and into t&e is really worthwhile and a bit of bodge. Personally, unless a big job, I'd go three core swa all the way. 3 core makes it easier as you havent got the worry of making sure the outer is bonded well for the earth (it still needs bonding at least one end to earth don't forget)

 

[Timbo]

Singles in conduit, SY or armoured. NOT twin & earth.

 

[fermerboy]

If it's a steel framed shed I use Swa 3 core, proper glands and metal junction boxes, down to waterproof switches and metal clad sockets. It's a bit slower to fit with glands etc but it's a seriously tidy job.
A lot of our older buildings are done with T & E and have been no bother but I take the point about rodents and damage.

 

[DanniAgro]

Thinking about it, Cjm is right and agricultural installations are a special case, needing conduit at least if you want to keep to the regs. I'm surprised that Mur Huwcuns electrician used T&E in any way, although I've used it myself, knowing that it won't be examined by the authorities. Just have to hope there's no fire and you want to claim on your insurance ...

 

[milkloss]

Thinking about it, Cjm is right and agricultural installations are a special case, needing conduit at least if you want to keep to the regs. I'm surprised that Mur Huwcuns electrician used T&E in any way, although I've used it myself, knowing that it won't be examined by the authorities. Just have to hope there's no fire and you want to claim on your insurance ...

before our visit one thing I did fit was an under 300ma (can't remember the rating exactly) 3ph rcd device which you now have to have on farms. It's 300ma max to prevent fire in the wiring not to protect life..... I think it's still quite a kick at that! If you have one fitted surely t&e is fine?

i ended up boxing all our incomer up anyway because we had an old one armed bandit isolator and some odd bits which didn't look good.

 

[DanniAgro]

The electrical installation course I went on taught that 80 mA on a 240v line was always fatal, so 300mA would be a bit more than a kick! As you say, it only stops fire and does not save lives.