Running power cables from CU to shed

Abromavich

I'm planning on putting an inverter in my adman shed at the back of the garden (either a 10 or 12kw inverter). Its about 20-25m run (length of garden is 16m) and can use some existing conduit in the utility room to hide the cable. The 10kw inverter specs on the left and 12kw on the right:

Will 10mm.sq copper cables suffice or would I need to use 16mm.sq. What is the best type of cable to use (i.e. outdoor) and good ease of use (flexible)? Better to use seperate single core cables or a 3 core? many thanks

edit. H07RN-F insulated cable seems ideal as its more flexible? would you go single core or 3 core?

https://www.wesco.ie/sites/admin/plugins/elfinder/files/fegimewesco/PDFs/Cable/Nexans_TITANEX-H07RN-F.pdf

drury..

Not trying to be smart but this is hardly minor works and requires an experienced REC on site

Not posters here designing the works

If this is another diy install with 12kw loads it's just a mad carryon here at this stage

Abromavich

REC would be doing any required electrical work. Thanks for the feedback

drury..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851282#Comment_122851282

Well if that's the case which I doubt

Its a mistake to try and spec cables for the REC so dont do it

I'm not an Internet policeman btw but this crack is madness lads googling for advise on connecting 12kw loads and running installations at 80A on the other thread

These are serious loads and require training and experience to be working at

You simply cannot google a few components and put them safely together without the training as lads are doing

And I'm only a half -decent spark myself I'll be the first to admit but I've 30 yrs experience and know the risks

drury..

Anyway if serious about getting a REC

Get the REC to determine the suitability of the installation (presumably your home) for an additional 10/12kw ? loading

The REC will then determine cable size and type if the work can proceed

Problems can arise if there's disagreement over the cabling specced for the work, never do it in advance

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851290#Comment_122851290

For someone who is not the internet police all you seem to do is tell people on boards they are going to kill themselves and they are knuckle heads by doing anything to do with electrics. The OP asked a reasonable question and was looking for advice which in case you haven't realised is what boards is all about. Why not guide the OP instead of slating them, they have already said a REC will be doing any works.

drury..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851298#Comment_122851298

I guided him accurately above your post on the initial steps

The major issue here is the nature of these type of works

12kw loads and 80A loading in the other thread being overseen by non -electricians

The sh1t will hit the fan on this anyhow it won't be me doing it I'm merely pointing out what's happening here

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851300#Comment_122851300

Sorry, but with your usual comments like "Well if that's the case which I doubt" "Anyway if serious about getting a REC" I seriously doubt that. Anyway, the OP got some advise off you.

JL spark

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851300#Comment_122851300

don’t even bother , these DIY insulations are a time bomb , people don’t care , they want it cheap , don’t care if it’s right or not , let them at it , I can sleep at night , imagine a burning time bomb while you sleep ,

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851395#Comment_122851395

Since when did anyone suggest they were doing DIY insulations?

Is this the same standard you apply to your own work?

As for the rest of your rant…..

drury..

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122851413#Comment_122851413

He's right and I'm only a bang average spark on practical i've no issue with declaring that fwiw

It's insane when I read what they were at on the renewables forum

Ya've a poster on another another thread here drawing 80A to make a few euro . He doesn't know what supply he has or anything about electrics he said maxxing out his main mcb

You wouldnt put a domestic spark adding these big loads unless he was well experienced

A decent diyer who understands that installation quality varies regardless of the base numbers and knows the practicalities of connections and overcurrent protection may be ok

drury..

A bit of controversy here flagging this up is small potatoes

Y'all have punters reading the thread for the numbers

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058381126/running-power-cables-from-cu-to-shed

As advised by others, get help on this from someone suitably experienced and make sure that there is suitable overcurrent protection and isolation in place.

There are a number of factors in determining the cable size, 16mm2 most likely.

Note that inverters larger than circa 5KW need specific ESB approval (mini generation). With the presence of smart meters it will be very obvious if you are exporting more than you should be without approval.

H07 is very flexible and nice to work with, but it has no inherent mechanical protection, so wouldn’t be very suitable for your application. SWA would be the typical choice.

Abromavich

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122857903#Comment_122857903

Thanks, this is very helpful. Understood on inverter specs and export capacity.

Is it possible to use H07 if it is run in a conduit along a wall? Or strictly necessary to use SWA when outside?

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122857933#Comment_122857933

If you provided a suitable conduit system. But SWA is less expensive and a better solution.

Abromavich

Yeah this is good - I’m considering the possibility of using SWA cable outside, terminating it with glands at a junction box located outside the shed and the back wall of the house. From there, H07 cable could be used to run to the house's consumer unit, avoiding using SWA inside house. Is this approach feasible? I’m trying to determine if it’s even worth pursuing at all before reaching out to REC.

Also if SWA is used for outside section of run, is it necessary to bury or safe to run through a marked conduit along garden wall?

Sorry for multiple questions…

meercat

my advice is to get your rec to run the swa continuously and not join it. You’ve introducing a potential area of fault /weakness at the connection and also a possibility of moisture ingress

You don’t need to bury it or put it in steel conduit as the steel wire armour is the mechanical protection that’s required

Just make sure it’s not likely to get damaged with garden machinery (strimmers/hedge cutters etc)

tom1ie

Sorry to hijacker’s this thread but I’m looking into getting a garden office and my existing shed wired.
Both supplied from my consumer unit.
I presume I should receive a RECI cert from sparks for the work involved?
Should I be able to see the sparks qualification if I go onto RECI website?
The whole job would be done turnkey by a company so I wouldn’t be dealing directly with the sparks but I want to know what to look for with regards the electrics.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122862742#Comment_122862742

If you go to the safe electric website you will find a list of registered electrical contractors.

Most will have served their time with an electrical contractor, but it will be up to you / your contractor to satisfy yourselves as to how suited they are to engage for your particular project. Like any industry you will have a wide variation in calibre between individual firms.