Putting power in the polytunnel?

[gardening_gal]

I just need suggestions for suitable sockets really.

I'd like to have a minimum of 4 plug spaces, mainly for grow lights, a fan and maybe a heater but not sure about that one yet.

Some time ago, an electrician had laid a heavy duty armoured external cable running from a separate fuse in the main fuse box and it's the kind that trips and shuts the power off if there is a problem. This was run to the old shed but it was never hooked up to anything, the cable was just left waiting to be used.

There's enough cable there for me to take it back out of the shed, dig another short trench and redirect it in conduit underground to the tunnel but I'm not sure about the type of socket that should be used inside the tunnel. I know there are outdoor sockets but they are only 2 gang. Since this would be like it's own circuit, could I just put an outdoor socket on the main armoured cable then run an external grade extension lead from it therefore giving me more sockets? I have one of those weatherproof boxes that can take a 4 gang extension so this would make it even more moisture proof in the tunnel.

[nickdub]

If it was me I'd buy two double outdoor sockets connect one to the supply directly and run a bit of new cable through some plastic pipe to protect it and spur the second socket off the first one - I am a bit of a bodger, so please be aware that does not include being a professional electrician.

[gardening_gal]

Cheers nick, don't worry I'm old enough and experienced enough to decide what I'm comfortable with myself without requiring all input to be 'book correct'.

I did think about a spur, I've done plenty indoors in my time, but the cable is very thick so I'd have to have a proper look to see if it would be feasible to wire it in.

[nickdub]

singing off the same hymn sheet :-)

[burnie]

Fuses are not really safe enough, a modern consumer unit with an RCD is a minimum requirement and I would get an electrician to fit all the wiring/sockets, not a job you should do yourself.

[gardening_gal]

Fuses are not really safe enough, a modern consumer unit with an RCD is a minimum requirement and I would get an electrician to fit all the wiring/sockets, not a job you should do yourself.

That's what I've got burnie, I just used the wrong terms, sorry. I grew up with everything 'in the meter cupboard' called 'the fuse box'. Old habits die hard. It is a modern unit, 5 years old I think. It has a built in RCD, everything is on it's own ring circuit, including the existing outdoor sockets so it's all as it should be. All done by an electrician (in conjuction with the Hydro at the time).

As for the sockets, we'll need to agree to disagree I'm afraid. I've been doing basic electrics for many years and adding sockets and spurs isn't an issue but I do like to research it all first. I appreciate your thoughts though, thanks for posting.

[bikermike]

RCDs don't like motors - be worth looking at a latched rcd if you are likely to run power tools off it. Also what is your total load? A heater and a fan could run up a lot of amps very quickly. If you put a kettle in there as well it could be interesting.

In a garden, not only do you have the damp, you also habe the risk of damage by tools etc. So I'd make sure it's IP44 at least and you run the cable with thought as to protection.

[Bacchus]

I've thought about it for my polytunnel but in the end I just ran some extensions from outside sockets for the few times when I've wanted power in there. I was iffy about having sockets in such a humid atmosphere and while outside sockets get rained on - they are designed for that.