fused spur to garage and outdoor socket

[Pinners27]

i had an electrician out and they fitted a switched fused spur on to an existing double gang socket in my kitchen to run power out to my garage.

At a later date another electrician then ran another outdoor socket off of the double gang socket.

I'm now having some new patio doors installed and need to move the sockets so they don 't get in the way of the new doors.

My question is, if I remove the switched spur, is it possible/advisable to change the outdoor socket to a fused spur and single gang socket -seems like less hassle to me?

 

[radiohead]

You have not stated how the garage will be supplied if you remove the FCU? Will the garage supply be re-routed to the outdoor FCU?

 

[pc1966]

Yes, a diagram of before & after plans might help folk to grasp what you have and are trying to achieve after the new doors are done.

 

[Pinners27]

Here you go - i still plan on routing it through an FCU - I believe there's another FCU in the garage too

 

[pc1966]

If your socket & garage total is never likely to go above 13A then putting them both off the FCU (as I think you are showing) would be your best option.

Presumably your socket circuit is already RCD protected?
[automerge]1589026199[/automerge]

I believe there's another FCU in the garage too

Is that for the lights? That is a typical way for adding a 3A or 5A fuse limit without the addition of a "garage CU" box for breakers.

 

[Pinners27]

I think the double gang they've come off of already just goes back to the main CU - and it doesn't have an RCD - would i be best replacing the double gang with a RCD D/G?

i have a feeling it's another 13A in the garage, i have an LED flourescent out there, and a tumble drier through the winter months.

 

[pc1966]

You absolutely must have RCD protection on any outdoor sockets!

Changing your CU may not be on your plans just now, but if there is no RCD on that just now then probably your best option is to use a RCD FCU for feeding all of the outdoor wiring. Probably you would need to by it separately from an IP55 or similar enclosure, this sort if idea:

13A RCD Fused Spur 30mA (Latching) - White | Timeguard (RCD10WPVN)

It might be worth a check of how the garage is wired. Often a 13A FCU is used to run a few spurs off an existing circuit on thinner wire (1.5mm T&E instead of the typical 2.5mm T&E) and not risk overloading it so that might be the reason. But equally as most light switches are only 10A rated at most, so it might be to limit that circuit's fault current.

 

[Pinners27]

Thank you for all your help!

Would changing the socket inside to a double socket with an RCD like this do the same job? I don't think the CU has an RCD in it, and they certainly haven't put an RCD in where they put the FCU.

RCD Switched Socket White

PowerBreaker RCD Switch Socket• Passive operation - does not need resetting after a power loss• Twin earth terminals• Conforms to BS7288, BS1363 & BSEN61543• Fits a standard 35mm backbox• 30mA Passive Type A RCD's• Conforms to new BS7288-2016 where Type A RCDs required

www.toolstation.com

 

[radiohead]

In the OP you state that the outdoor socket was installed by an electrician, are you saying the said electrician installed it without RCD protection? Because if so he/she/genderneutral/trans/anybody I've forgotten/ wasn't an electrician.

 

[Pinners27]

HE worked for mr. electric, he also drilled the hole for the cable from inside out, so when it emerged out the other side he blew the bricks - the first and last time i will ever use them.