Dave-sparks
Member
- Messages
- 619
- Location
- Woking
Apologies if this becomes a long winded introduction to my current problems.
Have been lucky enough (or unlucky ) to acquire a reasonable sized property, along with a old bungalow, various outbuildings (in various stages of falling down/rotting away!) and all the problems that are associated with the above.
Now then as it is currently not suitable for living in (among other problems, questionable electrics are part of this) the land behind the bungalow has been eyed up as a ideal spot for a workshop/yard/general dumping area for various projects. This is where the problems raise there ugly heads once again
The what should be the difficult part of this endeavour, erecting the workshop and associated groundworks etc, is not a problem as my background is in groundwork’s/erecting agricultural buildings, and am currently working for a steel frame building supplier
(very handy having access to almost every tool I could desire, a wealth of knowledge and most importantly being able to buy the required beams @ cost via work)
SKIP TO HERE TO AVOID MY RAMBLINGS
Now then onto the problem in hand, ELECTRICITY. Not my favoured area by any means.
The original wiring is best described as shoddy throughout 80% of the property (a problem currently being solved by isolating these parts at the fuse board or in other words flipping the fuses at the consumer unit).
Although it is in the pipeline for a full rewire of the bungalow along with other major building works required (possibly petrol and a match) this is still at least 5-10 years down the line, if at all, as we decide wherever to put time/money into this property as a place to live (both of which are in short supply) or if it is best suited to stay as a workshop/yard.
Now then onto my main question, if anyone gets this far . From advice I’ve been given I’ve came to realise there are 2 main solutions for the time being.
1st option- large generator (either single or 3 phase) to run whatever won’t work off 13 amp sockets (welders, compressor and the like). Luckily it seems the plug sockets is one of the only safe parts of the original wiring but this would require working out a way to get this supply into the workshop (preferably not 5+ extension leads if possible!) and this brings me onto the second option.
2nd option- if it’ll work or at least in theory work (before I waist a sparkys time) running a second consumer unit from the 1st one to then run lights, sockets (upto 32 amp) etc etc in the workshop.
This option sounds the easiest but is based on my hope that whoever installed the feed from the metre box to the consumer unit wasn’t a complete idiot and preferably a qualified electrician.
Anyone been in a similar situation or offer any magical words of wisdom
Thank you all, and well done if you’ve got to the end of my ramblings
View attachment 299249
Get an electrician to install a switchfuse at you incoming supply position to allow you take a seperate feed to the workshop.
A switchfuse is a far better option than an MCB in a consumer unit, don't be fobbed off.
If funds are tight dig a trench and install a 4" duct so the electrician can pull a cable in afterwards.
When the cable is pulled in to the duct be sure to pull in a draw wire for future additions.
Consider pulling a cat6 cable now for a future Internet connection (everything needs it these days), use duct grade (black sheathed) or cat6 SWA (armoured)