Installing a commando socket. Wiring?
Discussion
I was thinking of having a commando socket installed.
Am I right in thinking this could be run directly from the meter box rather than from the internal fuse board? (I defo dont want any internal work)
The issue is my garage (where I would want the socket) is separated by the garden and 2 sections of paving.
The green bit is astro turf. So its not straight forward to dig.
Anyone got any ideas?
The top black box is the house and the bottom black box is the garage, red box is the meter cabinet and red square is where I want the socket.
Am I right in thinking this could be run directly from the meter box rather than from the internal fuse board? (I defo dont want any internal work)
The issue is my garage (where I would want the socket) is separated by the garden and 2 sections of paving.
The green bit is astro turf. So its not straight forward to dig.
Anyone got any ideas?
The top black box is the house and the bottom black box is the garage, red box is the meter cabinet and red square is where I want the socket.
gotoPzero said:
megaphone said:
What do you need the commando for? Do you already have power in the garage? If so what breaker is it on?
For an Ev the garage is on the normal consumer unit as a normal fuse.Are you getting a proper EV charger installed? 7kw? As you mentioned , you'd be better off coming straight from the meter box, armoured cable buried under the ground, or it could clip along a fence or similar.
Edited by megaphone on Friday 9th February 18:54
Commando sockets can be 16A size or 32A size.
As mentioned by others, what size cable do you have going to the garage?
What size breaker is protecting that?
Also, if the Commando is intended to be used with an EV, then it must be installed to the same standards as an EVSE.
You will need to consider earthing.
If I remember correctly, the socket has to be interlocked too - simply an isolator switch that locks the plug in place.
If there is no power in the garage at present and you don't want to dig up the path/lawn, you might be able to mole it between two pits.
IANAE
As mentioned by others, what size cable do you have going to the garage?
What size breaker is protecting that?
Also, if the Commando is intended to be used with an EV, then it must be installed to the same standards as an EVSE.
You will need to consider earthing.
If I remember correctly, the socket has to be interlocked too - simply an isolator switch that locks the plug in place.
If there is no power in the garage at present and you don't want to dig up the path/lawn, you might be able to mole it between two pits.
IANAE
gotoPzero said:
Oh, well thats the end of that then!
Where is your consumer unit in relation to the external wall, meter box etc? It could be that its possible with no interior disruption.Also, it may well be possible to come off the tails at the meter box - DNOs are whining about customer equipment in *their box, but there's possibilities. You really need a sparky to advise.
- Their box, that the homeowner pays to buy and fit of course.
Ok so the garage is on the downstairs socket 32a breaker.
In the garage there is a 2 fuse fuse board which has one 5A fuse "light" and one 15A fuse "socket".
I am going to guess that means the existing cable to the garage is not big enough plus its on the downstairs sockets.
The meter cab looks like this
I was thinking if its possible to feed from the meter cab, to clip a cable to the wall along the house. Then, there is a slab path down the garden, I could lift the slabs and put some conduit in for the spark? Is that allowed?
In the garage there is a 2 fuse fuse board which has one 5A fuse "light" and one 15A fuse "socket".
I am going to guess that means the existing cable to the garage is not big enough plus its on the downstairs sockets.
The meter cab looks like this
I was thinking if its possible to feed from the meter cab, to clip a cable to the wall along the house. Then, there is a slab path down the garden, I could lift the slabs and put some conduit in for the spark? Is that allowed?
Given that it's for an EV you might be able to do it - it looks like you've already got a small CU in there (protecting the meter tails?) so you might be able to replace with a larger one & feed an amoured off to the garage. How big is your incoming supply 80A/100A?
Get an electrican in who does EV charger installations & they will be able to advise more accurately.
Get an electrican in who does EV charger installations & they will be able to advise more accurately.
I did something similar....
Doing it to your box -
Id move the isolator to top left. Then add in some henley blocks and put in another box, with double pole isolator and a 25A RCBO. Wire armour from there to your garage.
Things to consider your service rating.... could say 100A on it but be 60A running 7kw charger and a house can be problematic hence the newer chargers hence a CT that monitors the current and backs the charger when it sees the house taking a whack. if not could be a risk of popping your 60A fuse...
It is doable but you need pro advice, and they would need to install it. Moving that box is risky with power on.
ruggedscotty said:
I did something similar....
Doing it to your box -
Id move the isolator to top left. Then add in some henley blocks and put in another box, with double pole isolator and a 25A RCBO. Wire armour from there to your garage.
Things to consider your service rating.... could say 100A on it but be 60A running 7kw charger and a house can be problematic hence the newer chargers hence a CT that monitors the current and backs the charger when it sees the house taking a whack. if not could be a risk of popping your 60A fuse...
It is doable but you need pro advice, and they would need to install it. Moving that box is risky with power on.
As there's tails leaving the box I'd guess the consumer units on the other side of the wall so a new circuit could be run from there.
OP your existing sub main might (or might not) be big enough to handle it, can't find the cable and read what's writ on it?
I have an external commando socket (for ohme charging cable).
I first fixed the socket and the armoured cable (sized by electrician) to the external wall. Fortunately the fuse box was against an external wall so I could get to it easily.
Electrician made the final connections.
So there will be no issue with you running ducts and dead cable as long as it’s sized correctly.
Not sure an electrician will mess around moving a dno’s equipment in a meter house tho.
It’s the size of the supplying cable between the house/meter box and the garage that is important and unlikely to be sufficient at present.
I first fixed the socket and the armoured cable (sized by electrician) to the external wall. Fortunately the fuse box was against an external wall so I could get to it easily.
Electrician made the final connections.
So there will be no issue with you running ducts and dead cable as long as it’s sized correctly.
Not sure an electrician will mess around moving a dno’s equipment in a meter house tho.
It’s the size of the supplying cable between the house/meter box and the garage that is important and unlikely to be sufficient at present.
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