Garage Power Supply

[NorthernMonkey]

Hello all.

I've just moved house, and now with a garage with power, I can do a few of the things I've wanted to for a while, but couldn't

Before I can buy a welder, I'm going to get a better power feed into the garage, and a local part P sparky has agreed to wire all the bits together for £70, as long as I provide all of the bits, and run the wires in/ through the walls etc.

It's only going to cost a few pence more to install a 32A socket instead of a 16A socket, so I was going to get a 32A breaker installed into my consumer unit, then run a 6mm cable from the consumer unit into the 32A socket.

Is this a good idea and the right approach. Are there any problems from providing higher spec sockets than needed, other than the need to buy a bigger plug.

As I've said, I haven't bought the welder yet, but I'm of the opinion buy crap, buy twice, so I'll be doing some reading up on what to buy before pressing the button

 

[brightspark]

u can run 4mm cable to the 30 amp sockets with a 32 amp breaker but if u only intend running something that is only 16 amp u would have to reduce the breaker to a 16 amp. for the extra cost just run a 16 amp and a 30 amp supply using both size sockets 4.0mm for the 30 amp and 2,5mm for the 16amp

 

[NorthernMonkey]

I've not got enough room in the consumer board for 2 breakers. Everything will jump up in cost if I start making it more complicated than single breaker, 5m of wire and a socket

 

[wookie]

Wouldn't he be better to putting a 32A breaker in his house consumer unit that feeds a 6mm or bigger(future proofing) cable to a small consumer unit in the garage and fit that with 3 or 4 breakers to match the ratings of whatever sockets he wants in the garage, say a 32A socket, a 16A socket, 6A for lighting etc ?

He'll never overload the 6mm cable as it will trip the house breaker if he tries to pull more than 32A ?

 

[Paulbarrett]

Just ask the sparky for advice

 

[the snooper]

Wouldn't he be better to putting a 32A breaker in his house consumer unit that feeds a 6mm or bigger(future proofing) cable to a small consumer unit in the garage and fit that with 3 or 4 breakers to match the ratings of whatever sockets he wants in the garage, say a 32A socket, a 16A socket, 6A for lighting etc ?

He'll never overload the 6mm cable as it will trip the house breaker if he tries to pull more than 32A ?

that would be the best idea a small consumer unit in the garage that way the lighting can have the correct breaker along with and 13 amp standard sockets

 

[NorthernMonkey]

As the garage is attached to the house, the light in the garage runs off the lighting ring.
There is already a garage ring main, with its own 32A breaker, running into a 2.5mm ring with 6 sockets.
This would be in addition to these 2 rings.

 

[the snooper]

As the garage is attached to the house, the light in the garage runs off the lighting ring.
There is already a garage ring main, with its own 32A breaker, running into a 2.5mm ring with 6 sockets.
This would be in addition to these 2 rings.

in that's case fit the 32 and look for a single breaker to fit between the 32 and 16 amp socket or a 16 amp socket with its own breaker

 

[T0rnado69]

if the CU he has only has 1 breaker
then get a 2nd hand CU off ebay or the like that has 6 way ? or so...
so you can do whats said above,
MCB for lighting, MCB for 32a socket, MCB for 16a socket, MCB for ring main etc etc.

i used to just have two 2.5 T&E cables going into my garage and a ring main.
taken from the house CU on a 32a MCB
was fine until you suffer from "must have that tool" syndrome.

and then you fine you often trip the RCD because of what your using and people in the house are using. and then the kids start screaming..... OHH my god i never saved it...
oppssss
so i decided to get another 12way CU same as one in the house.
and run all the garage stuff from the 2nd CU
nice 16mm T&E from 63amp mcb on non protected side to 2nd CU
now i have no problems...

 

[brightspark]

if the CU he has only has 1 breaker
then get a 2nd hand CU off ebay or the like that has 6 way ? or so...
so you can do whats said above,
MCB for lighting, MCB for 32a socket, MCB for 16a socket, MCB for ring main etc etc.

because he stated he didnt want to shell out any more money in his post . everythings posible if its paid for and u have the cash

 

[T0rnado69]

thats true brightspark,

but a little 6way CU on ebay wont be much surely.

some times you have to shell out a bit, just to do the job right.
or end up doing the job twice....


EDIT- here is a 10way one starting at 1p
yer its collection only by the looks of it.
but you never know they might be someone on this forum that lives in Telford
that would collect it and post it to you.

 

[rikrobson]

You can get ready made consumer units for garages boats and caravans
I got one from eBay for my welding trolly power distribution

 

[Wedg1e]

Hello all.

I've just moved house, and now with a garage with power...

Yes, I'd heard they had electricity up your way now

 

[Kent]

Split the supply after your house meter put a whole new fuse box in the garage. That's how I have mine now. It doesn't cost a heap more money and you never have stuff trip in other buildings and makes other changes easier

 

[Robotstar5]

Split the supply after your house meter put a whole new fuse box in the garage. That's how I have mine now. It doesn't cost a heap more money and you never have stuff trip in other buildings and makes other changes easier

Don't forget the cable from split to fusebox will need protection, fuse etc. - link

 

[the snooper]

I don't think the op wants to spend any amount of cash, he has everything sorted barring the 32 / 16 amp feed, and even then only really needs to sort out a 16 amp feed / breaker from the 32 amp supply

 

[skotl]

I don't think the op wants to spend any amount of cash, he has everything sorted barring the 32 / 16 amp feed, and even then only really needs to sort out a 16 amp feed / breaker from the 32 amp supply

Indeed. And the OP has also stated that he has lighting and a ring main sorted out already.

Bear in mind that a 32A socket with a 32A MCB only has (wait for it...) 32A protection (actually up to 160A on a type B and up to 320A on a type C breaker) and the appliance cable / plug typically does not carry a fuse. The appliance may have a fuse but that's not guaranteed.

So, given the OP is looking for a single socket to supply the welder he/she should provision the socket with the current requirements of the welder in mind (or downrate the MCB to suit).
I'd run 6mm cable, cos the cost is negligible over 4mm, fit a 32A socket, and a 16A or 32A MCB based on the current requirement of the welder.

Anything else, given the existing provision of BS1363 sockets plus the existing lighting circuit is superfluous.

 

[Kent]

Don't forget the cable from split to fusebox will need protection, fuse etc. - link

Yep all done by my spark this id serious electric work not for amateurs like me

 

[NorthernMonkey]

Hello all

Thanks for the comments.

I've just talked through this with the sparky here at work who looks after all the computer room stuff.

Im going to go with a 6mm cable, and 32A socket, but use a 20A type C breaker. I'll keep a 32A breaker spare, so if requirements change, and I need to increase the power, I can just swap the breaker out.

I'm looking at a 180A welder, which should draw about 19A tops.

 

[brightspark]

a good plan