Advice on outside wiring

[Field954]

Is the new cable able to reach the CU? If so a separate MCB to feed the garage CU with (I presume) RCD or RCBO protections is better.

If it won't reach, but you could run SWA from house CU to where it currently ends up then you could join them using a resin joint. Bulky and a bit weird for indoors use but it is maintenance free!

New cable won’t reach the CU unfortunately. I’m going to take it to a FCU and run it from there.

 

[Field954]

Sounds like the sort of client I'd want to ensure no ambiguity existed with, prior to accepting the job. On the basis of your post I can't help wondering why the original spark isn't going to be completing the job.

After looking at the wiring I think I can see why.

 

[Field954]

The biggest problem I see is something in the garage tripping out the entire downstairs sockets.

I’d be planning around possible loads… is it just a few lights, garage doors and an outside freezer…. Or is there going to be a hot tub plugged in, or a load of heaters?

 

[Field954]

The biggest problem I see is something in the garage tripping out the entire downstairs sockets.

I’d be planning around possible loads… is it just a few lights, garage doors and an outside freezer…. Or is there going to be a hot tub plugged in, or a load of heaters??

Nothing huge, garage door, lighting circuit for 2 lights and a socket for power (not used for heaters or hot tubs etc).

 

[Field954]

It doesn't matter what the previous, missing in action Electrician said, or didn't say, promised or quoted for.
Or what the Client won't pay for.
What matters is what is needed to complete the abandoned job, if it can't be done to the regs and in a professional manner that has no future issues and at a price acceptable to both parties, then it's time to walk away.

As Nicebutdim, I wonder why the other Spark walked away.?

Totally agree, not enjoyable picking up work that others have left, client is the main focus and to keep happy as well as keeping everything safe. Job is on Thursday so should be able to get stuck in and have more of an in-depth look of how the previous spark did things.

 

[nicebutdim]

Yeah I think the original electrician was trying to do this job quickly and a bit rough too by the look of the way the cables are.

That's an easy conclusion to reach and, admittedly, my own first thought was that client may not have been happy with work carried out.

If this was the case, alarm bells would be ringing at the client being adamant you work to the previous spark's recommendations.

Tread carefully.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

This sounds like what I see in a lot of recently built properties. Spur from downstairs ring final to the detached garage via SWA, with a FCU at one end or the other for overload, plus another for the garage lights. Sometimes they put a garage board in the garage as well as the FCU in the house, which is a bit unnecessary IMO.

Nothing wrong with it really, but perhaps there are better ways to do it. One client did manage to pop the fuse, though he was using the garage as a gym in the winter and had 4kW of heating going on in there.

 

[DefyG]

Nothing huge, garage door, lighting circuit for 2 lights and a socket for power (not used for heaters or hot tubs etc).

Its not just the loading, if a fault develops within the garage the whole RFC will trip its RCD and if a split board other circuits too.