Workshop power supply

[DomP]

I'm currently running all the cable in conduit up to trunking around the top of my workshop build for my electrician to connect up to the consumer unit etc, he is going to be installing 10mm² swa from my house consumer unit roughly 10m to my workshop. I've got a garage that is supplied by a particularly dodgy old cable and wondered if I should ask him to take a feed off my workshop CU to supply the garage, removing the old cable, can this be done or would it need it's own supply direct from the house?

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

Can’t see why not, if he is a certified sparks, he will be able to say if it’s doable

 

[DomP]

I'm hoping so because the position of the CU in the house isn't ideal for running to the garage where as my workshop is more straightforward. I'll give him a call tomorrow if I can get him to answer, bloody elusive these sparkys

 

[Chris West]

As you probably know, wire size is a function of the load each conductor can carry without reaching its heat limit less a safety factor. So, its all about the combination of the loads on the shop and the garage that you might be required at the same time, but your sparky should be able to size the CBs on both to make sure the cable is properly protected.

I recently did something similar and I ran my shop power supply cable 0.5m underground in a plastic conduit. The cable was certified to be buried without conduit but I also laid an ethernet cable alongside of it plus a small rope in case I ever wanted to pull another conductor out to the shop for a gate alarm or whatever. Now my shop has a good network connection as well as a 50 amp power supply. Unfortunately, the improved network connection takes away an excuse for failing to answer my wife's text messages, etc.

 

[DomP]

That's a good point with regards to ethernet cable, it's a bit far for reliable WiFi.

It's unlikely I'll be using much power in both places at once but as ever I'd rather future proof I think.

 

[Spectric]

I should ask him to take a feed off my workshop CU to supply the garage

Depends on the calculations, it is a mater of loading and allowable volt drop but 10mm can handle around 7kW and has a volt drop of around 4.5mV per amp per metre so should be no issues and your elusive sparky will have to decide as he will be signing off the certificate for building control as it is notifiable under the regs.

 

[Dabop]

That's a good point with regards to ethernet cable, it's a bit far for reliable WiFi.

Looks at the 550m run to the front gate, with wifi connection for the camera, gate opener and intercom...

'O'Reilly' in best Irish accent....


(I got a Unifi system here- each 'flying saucer' has about 150m range plus they 'mesh' seamlessly so extending the range is as simple as plugging in another 'dish' to a power source- each one has a solar panel, charge controller, small 12v lithium battery and a 12v buck converter to power the POE injector for each one, literally 'sitting up trees' in my bush lol)

 

[Chris West]

Looks at the 550m run to the front gate, with wifi connection for the camera, gate opener and intercom...

'O'Reilly' in best Irish accent....


(I got a Unifi system here- each 'flying saucer' has about 150m range plus they 'mesh' seamlessly so extending the range is as simple as plugging in another 'dish' to a power source- each one has a solar panel, charge controller, small 12v lithium battery and a 12v buck converter to power the POE injector for each one, literally 'sitting up trees' in my bush lol)

Please send me a link to your "Unifi" system. I have set up a Deco mesh system but the flyin saucers don't have a range of 150m. At best mine are capable of 50m, depending of course, on the manner of obstructions between them. Also taking note of your solar panel chargers - are you mesh routers weather proof and thus can be placed outdoors?

 

[ChaiLatte]

You do not say what current draw or what duty cycle you require from the garage supply.

That makes it difficult for anyone to express an opinion and is a question your electrician should ask you before comitting either way.

If the power is to light a 40W equivalent LED bulb once a month when you are in the garage for ten minutes, that is very different to 4kW of grow lights 24h a day for a horticultural job on the side.

 

[Dabop]

Please send me a link to your "Unifi" system. I have set up a Deco mesh system but the flyin saucers don't have a range of 150m. At best mine are capable of 50m, depending of course, on the manner of obstructions between them. Also taking note of your solar panel chargers - are you mesh routers weather proof and thus can be placed outdoors?

Standard Unifi U6LR-s- they are usable in 'sheltered outdoor locations' (in my case under the shelter of the solar panel above in a 'semi enclosed' housing ie baffles I built around the edge of the panel attached to a handy tree branch at the camp and the gate)

There's one at the shed. one at the 'old camp' about halfway, and another 'near' the gate itself- each mounted 10-12m above ground...
These beasts

from https://ubwh.com.au/Ubiquiti/UniFi-WiFi/U6-LR