wiring a log cabin

[Henrik]

I've got a log cabin in the garden right next to my garage.

The sparky I had over to quote suggested running a new SWA cable down the garden (cable run of about 40m), with new tails etc from the feed from the main fuse inside the house. I'd then end up with a new fusebox in the cabin etc.

I didn't think of it at the time, and sparky didn't suggest, but I've just realised I have a 16mm2 SWA cable going into my garage, which is 3m away from the cabin.

I've got four free ways in the consumer unit in the garage, so would it be bad practice (or indeed illegal) to extend from this CU to another CU in the cabin? I'm not too keen on paying for another run of SWA seeing as I paid a load of money only 1.5 years back to have the first one installed! Or is it possible to split the SWA that is currently running down the garden before it goes into the garage?

 

[madkayaker]

Providing the swa is complient to the wiring regs that's fine.

 

[Windy Miller]

I have a length of swa (10mm I think) that you could have for nowt if you want. Would be ideal for that job!

It's been kicking around for ages and ill be glad to see the back of it! You could get to mine in a bout a half hour if you timed it right...

 

[Robotstar5]

Providing the total load of garage AND log cabin doesn't exceed the capacity of the garage feed.

 

[brightspark]

I have a length of swa (10mm I think) that you could have for nowt if you want. Would be ideal for that job!

It's been kicking around for ages and ill be glad to see the back of it! You could get to mine in a bout a half hour if you timed it right...

u could take a sub main from your garage using a spare way by adding a 40 amp mcb and use the 10mm swa to the db in the cabin . joining the armoured outside u would need to match the existing cable size of 16mm depending on what size fuse rating is back at source .more hassle than its worth

 

[Henrik]

Cool, thanks for the advice guys - I'll let the sparky know that I want it subbed from the garage then, rather than a new cable.

Windy Miller, thanks for the offer, however I'll just let sparky sort it all out, otherwise I'll probably end up getting the wrong stuff anyway

 

[madkayaker]

if the cabin is only a small job with little power draw i would use a RCBO in the garage consumer unit at 16amp and use SWA to first socket then flexible conduit or twin after that radial circuit with the lights being local fused down to 3amp off end of the radial

 

[Robotstar5]

I'd prefer some means of local isolation where the SWA comes in to the cabin. Assuming the SWA installation method complies, feed it from a spare MCB in the garage to an RCD fitted CU in the cabin. At least you won't have to go to the garage when an RCD trips.

 

[brightspark]

if the cabin is only a small job with little power draw i would use a RCBO in the garage consumer unit at 16amp and use SWA to first socket then flexible conduit or twin after that radial circuit with the lights being local fused down to 3amp off end of the radial

as above post by robot star. but even if u fit a 30ma rcd in cabin and theres also a 30ma one back at source both will still trip unless theres a timed delay or its a100ma trip no big deal though .its rare they trip anyhow