Shed Electrics / Lighting

g0g

I know there have been threads about sheds but I can't find one about electrics. Last week I finally got a better shed - steel approx 4x3m. I already have a junction box run down to end of garden beside it and a duct through the concrete floor ready to take a cable. Now I basically have a blank canvas for what electrics to put in. I didn't opt for windows (for privacy) or light panels in the roof (for condensation) so want to be sure whatever lighting I put in is suitable for pottering with the bike potentially when it's dark outside.

What has anyone else put in?
Is a simple long roof light at the top the way most people go or are there better LED solutions anyone has tried?
Do people put in spot lights ever?
I'll stick in a few sockets around the place too.
Anything else I should be considering before I fill the place with junk?

Thanks!

stecleary

g0g wrote: »

I know there have been threads about sheds but I can't find one about electrics. Last week I finally got a better shed - steel approx 4x3m. I already have a junction box run down to end of garden beside it and a duct through the concrete floor ready to take a cable. Now I basically have a blank canvas for what electrics to put in. I didn't opt for windows (for privacy) or light panels in the roof (for condensation) so want to be sure whatever lighting I put in is suitable for pottering with the bike potentially when it's dark outside.

What has anyone else put in?
Is a simple long roof light at the top the way most people go or are there better LED solutions anyone has tried?
Do people put in spot lights ever?
I'll stick in a few sockets around the place too.
Anything else I should be considering before I fill the place with junk?

Thanks!

I just have a bulb tied up to the roof and plug it in to the socket when needed, nothing fancy but for me it didn't have to be I have large windows in the shed

iwillhtfu

A couple of 5ft flourescent lights will do grand the IP65 variety they're fully enclosed so will avoid you getting showered in broken glass if you should hit them with a flying spanner or similar

If you wanted you could put in a couple of more task specific lights.

You could go the LED route but they're quite expensive and I doubt they'll be on for long periods of time so the savings would be minimal over the flourescent.

Don't forget to wire a couple of security lights on the exterior and it may be no harm to put in one of those electric heaters to keep damp away during the cold winter months.

If you're putting expensive bikes inside it might be no harm to run across an alarm cable that you can tie into the house alarm at some point. You could go mental and wire cctv also a camera over the door wouldn't be to expensive.

g0g

iwillhtfu wrote: »

A couple of 5ft flourescent lights will do grand the IP65 variety they're fully enclosed so will avoid you getting showered in broken glass if you should hit them with a flying spanner or similar

If you wanted you could put in a couple of more task specific lights.

You could go the LED route but they're quite expensive and I doubt they'll be on for long periods of time so the savings would be minimal over the flourescent.

Don't forget to wire a couple of security lights on the exterior and it may be no harm to put in one of those electric heaters to keep damp away during the cold winter months.

If you're putting expensive bikes inside it might be no harm to run across an alarm cable that you can tie into the house alarm at some point. You could go mental and wire cctv also a camera over the door wouldn't be to expensive.

Thanks for all that! Now granted the bikes (all 2 of them!) are both <€ 1K, but maybe someday I'll treat myself to a better one and learn how to repair and properly maintain the things! Good point on the LEDs, hadn't considered how little I'd be using them.

sconhome

I would have a mini fuse board put in with a lights circuit and a sockets circuit.

If you overload a socket you don't want the house being tripped nor do you want to be left in the dark on a winters night.

A pair of double fluorescent along the roof line and one at the eaves over your work area should be ideal for pretty much anything. Sockets for indoor fans and laptop if doing turbo sessions too. If concrete floor get some stable mats to make it more comfortable for working at a bench / bike stand and also to allow for wipe down of sweat too.

Get another shed for junk make this your 12m2 man cave!!

iwillhtfu

AKW wrote: »

I would have a mini fuse board put in with a lights circuit and a sockets circuit.

I would assume that's a given although in saying that there's still a number of variables that would have to be accounted for if considering installing a distribution board. The lads in the electrical forum will argue about this till dawn.

I did have more detail but these conversations only end up be coming a pissing contest. If you need any help advice PM me.

g0g

AKW wrote: »

I would have a mini fuse board put in with a lights circuit and a sockets circuit.

If you overload a socket you don't want the house being tripped nor do you want to be left in the dark on a winters night.

A pair of double fluorescent along the roof line and one at the eaves over your work area should be ideal for pretty much anything. Sockets for indoor fans and laptop if doing turbo sessions too. If concrete floor get some stable mats to make it more comfortable for working at a bench / bike stand and also to allow for wipe down of sweat too.

Get another shed for junk make this your 12m2 man cave!!

When the electrician was doing wiring for the garden lights and that box for the shed it all got put on a new fuse on the main board, so I assume that's enough?

The man cave dream is there, but my wife has already earmarked space for the garden furniture and a few other things! The lawnmower also needs to escape the tiny old shed that suffers from damp (rust!).

PukkaStukka

g0g wrote: »

When the electrician was doing wiring for the garden lights and that box for the shed it all got put on a new fuse on the main board, so I assume that's enough?

The man cave dream is there, but my wife has already earmarked space for the garden furniture and a few other things! The lawnmower also needs to escape the tiny old shed that suffers from damp (rust!).

What akw means is that within your new shed, you are splitting the lighting and sockets onto their own separate dedicated circuits. So if you trip the sockets, you don't trip the lights. As an aside, it might be worth an electrician looking at what was put in for the garden originally. It may be fine for its current intended use of garden lights but not necessarily for a shed with multiple lights and sockets.

Raam

Double sockets, switched and stick in at least 3 of them if you can.

iwillhtfu

PukkaStukka wrote: »

What akw means is that within your new shed, you are splitting the lighting and sockets onto their own separate dedicated circuits. So if you trip the sockets, you don't trip the lights.

I think what he actually means and it's quite relevant if existing circuit had been wired off a kitchen circuit. If something in you shed was to cause the circuit to trip then it would be tripping you kitchen circuit fridge/freezer etc could be off for hours if it happened while you were at work.

Installing a mini DB with rcbo and a lighting mcb would remove this risk.

OP I'd imagine what's in place is a 2.5sqmm cable feeding a socket and he's probably tapped off this for garden lights. It would suffice for small power in the shed but I wouldn't go overboard on the fittings.

Getting back to the LED lighting they would help in this scenario as they are a fraction of the load/wattage of a standard flourescent so you could essentially have more.

If the missus hints at putting the washing machine/dryer out there tell her the cable is undersized and would cost thousands to pull in a new cable