water and electricity to a shed

[degsy41]

Hi,

I will soon be having most of my garden paved and would eventually like to have a new larger shed with power and water. So, I need to put in a pipe for water and an electrical cable to feed the shed I will eventually build.

Never done this before so I dont know what to buy. For the time being they will just be installed under the paving without any connection either side. My paver said he would put them in a trench if I buy the pipe and cable ready.

For the electrical cable will 2.5mm twin and earth steel wired armoured cable be enough? It will feed lighting, power sockets for a workshop etc. Shouldnt think it would be more than a standard ring main for current consumption.

not sure about the water pipe. are there products out there designed for this? My paving guy said to get a roll of it, do they come in rolls?

Just need a bit of a nudge in the right direction.

thanks in advance.

Degsy.

MOD: Please search the forum first for information, this topic has been done to death, of course after you have done that, then feel free to ask for any further clarification you may require.

 

[degsy41]

I did search first but couldnt find an answer.

 

[bernardgreen]

The answer is to install ducts and not cables at this moment in time.

Then when the electrician has determined what size cable is needed that cable can be pulled in through the duct.

The other duct can then be used for data, alarm and other Extra Low Voltage cabling ( 230 volts AC is Low Voltage in the egualtions )

There is something to be said for using a third duct for the water pipe.

 

[rsgaz]

not sure about the water pipe. are there products out there designed for this?

DrainDepot have all the right colours and rope and warning tapes. Water...
https://www.draindepot.co.uk/63mm-x-50m-blue-twinwall-water-pipe-duct.html
Electric
https://www.draindepot.co.uk/40mm-x-50m-black-twinwall-electric-cable-duct.html

If you do want a third for data/future proof, they do sell the correct colours, but black will be fine for that also if your run is under 25 metres. (i.e. you have to buy a 50m roll regardless, so just chop it in two)

 

[foxhole]

You could just bury the water and leave each end exposed till used.

 

[bernardgreen]

and leave each end exposed till used.

but with the ends sealed to prevent dirt and creepy crawleys getting to the pipe before it is connected.

 

[conny]

If you are putting ducting or pipes in for your electrics make sure you feed a fish cord, (length of strong string/rope), through first. This will make it much easier to pull the cables through. I also tend to tie another fish cord to the cable being installed in case you want/need to pull something else through at a later date.

PS I think water pipe tends to be blue but check with the place you buy it from.

 

[foxhole]

but with the ends sealed to prevent dirt and creepy crawleys getting to the pipe before it is connected.

Of course , dumb not too .

 

[bernardgreen]

sure you feed a fish cord,

To get the cord through use a ball of cotton wool tied to a reel of strong thread. It should be a loose fit in the duct, Then suck the ball through the duct using a vacuum cleaner while feeding the thread in by hand.

This works best when the duct is laid straight as the thread doesn't have to drag round bends.

Then use the thread to pull the cord through.

 

[foxhole]

Or you can get purpose made Glass reinforced polyester rod sets or even drain rods in larger ducting .

 

[conny]

The 'problem' with using rods is that, unless you are in the trade' you will very rarely use them again so cheaper to use Bernards method or tie a piece of string to a weight, such as a nut, and drop it through vertically before laying the pipe horizontal.