Lights and power in the workshop

[MattF]

Had that at my old workshop I ended up putting a magnetic torch on the wall next to the door.

Last time it happened to me, reached over for the lamp I always keep in a certain spot, & you can guess the next part.

 

[brightspark]

If I'm not running a ring main then whayt's the best layout for a radial. I don't mind buying extra wire I just don't know how to set it out.

you can run a radial a string of sockets in 2.5mm cable on a 20 amp mcb or a radial wired in 4.0mm on a 32 amp mcb

 

[brightspark]

you can run a radial a string of sockets in 2.5mm cable on a 20 amp mcb or a radial wired in 4.0mm on a 32 amp mcb

mine are 32 amp as i run a 180 amp oilcooled welder and a twin motor compressor .other than that just plug in powertools

 

[Pete.]

I just bought 50m of 2.5 T&E and I've got a B32 breaker in the CU so I might just stick with a ring just for the heck of it. My last workshop had a ring circuit for the sockets on a 16a MCB and I never popped that. I've got all the same gear except for the compressor which will go on its own supply.

The whole workshop is fed from a B32 in the house, though the garage is on a B40 so I could swap them as there's bugger all in the garage.

 

[aesmith]

Again going back to the supply, I’d recommend either having the workshop supply fed from an RCBO, or if suitable, a time delay RCD with local RCD protection.

When I put the supply into our outbuildings I was told I didn’t need RCD at the house end, if the cable was SWA end to end.

 

[brightspark]

When I put the supply into our outbuildings I was told I didn’t need RCD at the house end, if the cable was SWA end to end.

that depends on your supply. if its a tt you need rcd protection at source if the dno supply the earth its not needed

 

[aesmith]

Wonder how many of us have been in our workshop, at some point, thinking "Dare I move", whilst mentally envisaging the workshop layout.

I had that, but self inflicted. Up a stepladder fitting lights, and not remembering that letting N brush against earthed metalwork would trip the RCD even though the circuit was switched off.

 

[aesmith]

that depends on your supply. if its a tt you need rcd protection at source if the dno supply the earth its not needed

Cheers, ours is TNS.

 

[Pete.]

Cutting in wall box holes today. I want a lot of sockets over this bench space as it will be servicing 4 bench grinders, several mini grinders and whatever else I will be using.

I want them nice and tidy looking so I made a template and put a line on the wall in whiteboard marker.



I drilled the corners, cut the rough hole out with a jig saw then ran a router around the square to tidy the edges. It took a bit of time to set up but now I can cut a pair of boxes in 10 minutes.



Boxes fit nice and snug and perfectly lined up along the wall. Gonna put 8 or 10 along this wall I think.

 

[pressbrake1]

The good old unexpected power cut scenario.

Wonder how many of us have been in our workshop, at some point, thinking "Dare I move", whilst mentally envisaging the workshop layout.

My workshop doesn’t have windows and is a bit cluttered.
Lights gone out and cursing myself for leaving phone (light)in my coat.

 

[123hotchef]

I have a B32, two B16 and two B6 in the CU.

I won't be messing with the house wiring though I'm not averse to swapping out the CU in the workshop.

#i have a plastic CU here if you need it Pete, from when I had to change the one at my flat.

 

[dobbslc]

The good old unexpected power cut scenario.

Wonder how many of us have been in our workshop, at some point, thinking "Dare I move", whilst mentally envisaging the workshop layout.

I'm like that in daylight!

 

[addjunkie]

Cutting in wall box holes today. I want a lot of sockets over this bench space as it will be servicing 4 bench grinders, several mini grinders and whatever else I will be using.

I want them nice and tidy looking so I made a template and put a line on the wall in whiteboard marker.

View attachment 475111

I drilled the corners, cut the rough hole out with a jig saw then ran a router around the square to tidy the edges. It took a bit of time to set up but now I can cut a pair of boxes in 10 minutes.

View attachment 475112

Boxes fit nice and snug and perfectly lined up along the wall. Gonna put 8 or 10 along this wall I think.

View attachment 475113

I’m a bit of a fan of sockets along the front end of a bench too, stops cables lying over the work surface

 

[awemawson]

I’m a bit of a fan of sockets along the front end of a bench too, stops cables lying over the work surface

Many times the high concentration of sockets needed by a bench or desk is difficult to achieve. I have three twelve way metal sockets strips of the type mounted in computer room data cabinets (for all the modems, switches etc) and they have a single umbilical cord plugged into a 13a socket as the total draw is rarely high.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamode-Way-Vertical-13A-Switched/dp/B001CW67VG?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2HEO7CUJYK4UY

 

[Pete.]

Holes cut for 8 double sockets. Wires run out in a loop, stripped and connected to metal sockets. All buttoned up and ready for connecting to the CU. I ran the ring main around the opposite wall rather than back the same way so I can cut into it to do the sockets on the opposite wall later.

 

[brightspark]

are u sure your prepared for world war 3 8 on the ring so if needed you can spur 8 off

 

[Robotstar5]

Holes cut for 8 double sockets. Wires run out in a loop, stripped and connected to metal sockets. All buttoned up and ready for connecting to the CU. I ran the ring main around the opposite wall rather than back the same way so I can cut into it to do the sockets on the opposite wall later.

View attachment 475184

View attachment 475185

Beats having to thread loads of 20mm conduit...

But running the cable was probably a bit quicker.

 

[voipio]

Holes cut for 8 double sockets. Wires run out in a loop, stripped and connected to metal sockets. All buttoned up and ready for connecting to the CU. I ran the ring main around the opposite wall rather than back the same way so I can cut into it to do the sockets on the opposite wall later.

View attachment 475184

View attachment 475185

16 sockets, all running at 13A is 208A total on the ring main, worst case. What do the regs say?

 

[brightspark]

16 sockets, all running at 13A is 208A total on the ring main, worst case. What do the regs say?

you can have as many sockets as you like on a ring main providing its less than in 100 square meters obviously your limited to current drawn and diversity

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I did plastic conduit along the top of the walls and sockets every 1m so...less likely to be knocked and broken. Bench area has 4 double sockets ...still not enough sometimes!

I have zone lighting...that's a very good idea . If I'm popping in I just light the front area only.