Brewing Shed advice

[Kev888]

So I don't need to stretch the mortgage to include a Chinook then?

Well you may say that now, but as you embark on a new setup its surprising what seems to become strangely necessary..

[themadhippy]

As far as I read no one stated that "an earth is not required for an rcd to operate

That's the whole point of an RCD - an earth is not required.

Anyway enough of this,i wont mention to the o/p about extending the earth out of the equipotential bonding zone if hes on a TN-C-S (pme) supply,that's to much of a can of worms .

[AnthonyUK]

Firstly I'd like to apologise by for being critical in my first post. Sorry.

Some of the content of this thread is full of mistakes and errors as to be dangerous.
There should be a disclaimer somewhere or someone with the relevant knowledge and experience should sum up what is right/wrong/permitted etc.
I'm no consumer electrician but do have an electronics background so the topic is not completely alien to me.
I for one would appreciate a brief summary as this is something I'm also interested in installing shortly although my shed does already have power via and RCD MCB from the distribution board.

Oh - I do have many years experience on Chinooks if that helps

Cheers

[Beer O'Clock]

Firstly I'd like to apologise by for being critical in my first post. Sorry.

Some of the content of this thread is full of mistakes and errors as to be dangerous.
There should be a disclaimer somewhere or someone with the relevant knowledge and experience should sum up what is right/wrong/permitted etc.
I'm no consumer electrician but do have an electronics background so the topic is not completely alien to me.
I for one would appreciate a brief summary as this is something I'm also interested in installing shortly although my shed does already have power via and RCD MCB from the distribution board.

Oh - I do have many years experience on Chinooks if that helps

Cheers

This point of "reponsibility" has been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere. It is generally considered that the person carrying out the work must take responsibility in the same way as taking responsibility for anything in life. If you don't know what you are doing, and are prepared to take advise from faceless individuals on a forum with no knowledge of their experience or qualifications, then maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. However, if you are confident in your knowledge and are just looking for some reinforcement of that knowledge, then (by all means) plow ahead. Again - your responsibility.

[boingy]

Firstly I'd like to apologise by for being critical in my first post. Sorry.

Some of the content of this thread is full of mistakes and errors as to be dangerous.
There should be a disclaimer somewhere or someone with the relevant knowledge and experience should sum up what is right/wrong/permitted etc.
I'm no consumer electrician but do have an electronics background so the topic is not completely alien to me.
I for one would appreciate a brief summary as this is something I'm also interested in installing shortly although my shed does already have power via and RCD MCB from the distribution board.

Oh - I do have many years experience on Chinooks if that helps

Cheers

Heheh. Welcome to the forum and well done for just wading in.

In a nutshell, and at the risk of waking the sleeping bears, it would be unusual for the supply to your shed to be anything other than the bog-standard wiring designed for 13A sockets so you can reasonably expect to be able to drive a 3kW heater element from it. If you need to drive a second heating element, or if your total power draw is over 3kW, then you can use a heavy duty extension lead (make sure it is rated at 13A and fully unwound) powered from a different circuit in your house (e.g. the kitchen) to drive the second element. Use an RCD at the house end of the extension cable and use good quality plugs on everything.

A better but more costly solution is to pay a sparky to run a heavier cable to the shed and install an RCD and mini consumer unit in there, along with whatever sockets he deems necessary to meet your needs.

Just ignore all the guff about ground impedances, missing earths and RCD's not working. That's mostly just hot air.
And if you have any doubts, ask a qualified sparky rather than a bunch of home brew reprobates.

[themadhippy]

A better but more costly solution is to pay a sparky to run a heavier cable to the shed and install an RCD and mini consumer unit in there, along with whatever sockets he deems necessary to meet your need

And make sure the sparky is part p registered , or get the work certified by a part p registered person/company.

[AnthonyUK]

Heheh. Welcome to the forum and well done for just wading in.

In a nutshell, and at the risk of waking the sleeping bears, it would be unusual for the supply to your shed to be anything other than the bog-standard wiring designed for 13A sockets so you can reasonably expect to be able to drive a 3kW heater element from it. If you need to drive a second heating element, or if your total power draw is over 3kW, then you can use a heavy duty extension lead (make sure it is rated at 13A and fully unwound) powered from a different circuit in your house (e.g. the kitchen) to drive the second element. Use an RCD at the house end of the extension cable and use good quality plugs on everything.

A better but more costly solution is to pay a sparky to run a heavier cable to the shed and install an RCD and mini consumer unit in there, along with whatever sockets he deems necessary to meet your needs.

Just ignore all the guff about ground impedances, missing earths and RCD's not working. That's mostly just hot air.
And if you have any doubts, ask a qualified sparky rather than a bunch of home brew reprobates.

Cheers,
You are almost certainly correct about the cabling to the shed and a mini consumer unit may be required.
Sound advice.

[chivelegs]

Cheers all.

Believe me when I say I will categorically NOT be dicking around with any aspects of the mains supply. That's what Sparky Brothers-in-law were invented for.
A few times he's listened to various ideas I have had for electrickery, be it homebrew or otherwise, thought about it for all of 4 seconds and said "Wouldn't if i were you."

And yes, I do listen to him, and let him do any risky stuff.