Add extra sockets to garage

[TheAngryDog]

My garage currently has 4 double electrical sockets in the garage and 2 light switches, all on the same side. I'd like to add 4 more double sockets and a light switch on the other side of the garage, so I'd have 2 double sockets on each side wall and 4 double sockets along the back wall, plus a light switch on the other side as well.

Will I need to get an electrician in for this? I believe the current wiring is in serial and not on a ring.

Thanks.

[Mr Pointy]

You don't HAVE to get an electrian to do it if you think it's within your capabilites.

[RichB]

TheAngryDog said:

Will I need to get an electrician in for this? I believe the current wiring is in serial and not on a ring...

Are you asking from a legal standpoint or complexity?

[TheAngryDog]

RichB said:

TheAngryDog said:

Will I need to get an electrician in for this? I believe the current wiring is in serial and not on a ring...

Are you asking from a legal standpoint or complexity?

Both

[RichB]

TheAngryDog said:

RichB said:

TheAngryDog said:

Will I need to get an electrician in for this? I believe the current wiring is in serial and not on a ring...

Are you asking from a legal standpoint or complexity?

Both

Google provides lots of information with regard to the requirements which in summary is that you can do it yourself but should get it checked by a qualified electrician.
In practical terms adding a ring is very simple however from what you've said the wiring in your garage sounds very basic so to begin I would ensure you have a modern consumer unit which will provide safety in the garage separately from the house. With that you can then run whatever you want from there.

[eliot]

RichB said:

In practical terms adding a ring is very simple

Anf assuming he does the ring final test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UesYHVsZD-E
or a slightly less "school teacher" but more drole presentation from John Ward:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyK0-_v5xc

(not a spark before the pile-on)

[Sheepshanks]

TheAngryDog said:

I believe the current wiring is in serial and not on a ring.

Do you know the cable size? Is the garage on its own circuit breaker, and what is the rating of that breaker?

If the cabling is 2.5mm twin and earth then the max you'd want to be putting though it is 20A and it should probably be protected by a 16A circuit breaker - even though you know the circuits limitations, someone else may overload it.

On the lighting, if you want all three switches to control the lighting then you'll need to add an intermediate switch.

[RichB]

Sheepshanks said:

<clip> On the lighting, if you want all three switches to control the lighting then you'll need to add an intermediate switch.

And they require a bit of getting your head around.

[RichB]

Sheepshanks said:

<clip> If the cabling is 2.5mm twin and earth then the max you'd want to be putting though it is 20A and it should probably be protected by a 16A circuit breaker ...

Although when used in a ring you can double that.

[Sheepshanks]

RichB said:

Although when used in a ring you can double that.

OK.

[Belle427]

It used to be ok to add a socket or switch and it was not notifiable, unsure if things have changed.
Would be easier to relocate your existing 2nd switch really if its not critical just to keep the wiring simpler.
More info required on your mcb setup etc to advise more.

[raceboy]

Stage one of my garage makeover starts this week, and that's the electrics.
Removing one single socket, adding 3 doubles and relocating a single and a double, along with a door bell feed, also wiring in the feed for replacing the existing lighting and the appropriate switching.
I could have done most of it myself, the Consumer Unit is in the garage and the loads aren't going to be noticeably different, where the new sockets are going there are currently extension cables running off existing sockets, so nothing extra is actually going to be plugged in, just neater.
The electrician has quoted £200 which I decided as part of the overall referb it wasn't worth me blowing something up.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I have a separate RCD box in the garage



This is the garage lay out currently.

Back wall - sockets are on the left half only.



Main entrance wall - RCD is on here as well as the 2 light switches and 2 double sockets.



Far wall - nothing on this side.

[mickk]

Supply the correct material and that's a days work for a spark, not worth the hassle and you'll get it certificated.

[Belle427]

So your existing sockets look to be on a 16 amp radial circuit, easy enough to carry that on from the last socket which should only have one cable in it at present, no real need to change to a ring if there won't be any heavy use equipment going in there.
Lighting that's up to you really, little point in overcomplicating it though and I would just have two switches near where you will use them obviously.

[TheAngryDog]

Belle427 said:

So your existing sockets look to be on a 16 amp radial circuit, easy enough to carry that on from the last socket which should only have one cable in it at present, no real need to change to a ring if there won't be any heavy use equipment going in there.
Lighting that's up to you really, little point in overcomplicating it though and I would just have two switches near where you will use them obviously.

Thanks. I use both switches, but neither are convenient for when I open the garage door where my car is parked, and as I have 2 parked in there at the moment, getting to the switches on the other side of the garage is annoying as I have stuff in between the cars as well. While this won't be a long term thing, it would just be more convenient to be able to turn the lights on from the 3 locations.

Most of my power tools are battery powered. I have a pressure washer and a tumble drier in there too.

[Mr Pointy]

TheAngryDog said:

Thanks. I use both switches, but neither are convenient for when I open the garage door where my car is parked, and as I have 2 parked in there at the moment, getting to the switches on the other side of the garage is annoying as I have stuff in between the cars as well. While this won't be a long term thing, it would just be more convenient to be able to turn the lights on from the 3 locations.

Most of my power tools are battery powered. I have a pressure washer and a tumble drier in there too.

For the light switching just put in Quinetic passive switches - there's a thread on here somewhere where a poster did that:

https://www.quinetic.co.uk/#products

You probably need a in-line RX switch to replace one of your current switches & one or two wireless switches.

As for the sockets & conduiting it's not difficult work to do & you have a nice installation to follow.

[Belle427]

Or just add a pir detector somewhere with a good field of vision, should turn on easily then. Can be beneficial when coming home at night and using the main doors.

[gmaz]

Mr Pointy said:

TheAngryDog said:

Thanks. I use both switches, but neither are convenient for when I open the garage door where my car is parked, and as I have 2 parked in there at the moment, getting to the switches on the other side of the garage is annoying as I have stuff in between the cars as well. While this won't be a long term thing, it would just be more convenient to be able to turn the lights on from the 3 locations.

Most of my power tools are battery powered. I have a pressure washer and a tumble drier in there too.

For the light switching just put in Quinetic passive switches - there's a thread on here somewhere where a poster did that:

https://www.quinetic.co.uk/#products

You probably need a in-line RX switch to replace one of your current switches & one or two wireless switches.

As for the sockets & conduiting it's not difficult work to do & you have a nice installation to follow.

Yeah - another vote for Quinetic here, a fantastic solution to put switches anywhere and takes 5 mins to fit.

TLC stock them https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Quinetic/i...


Putting the sockets in trunking makes the job look professional https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Trunking_P...

[archie456]

gmaz said:

Yeah - another vote for Quinetic here, a fantastic solution to put switches anywhere and takes 5 mins to fit.

TLC stock them https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Quinetic/i...


Putting the sockets in trunking makes the job look professional https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Trunking_P...

I'd just go for regular switches with an intermediate switch, there's no reason to complicate it. I'd just use metal-clad sockets and switches with round trunking the same as are currently fitted.

I put about twenty sockets in my garage on a ring, and once you get in the swing of it it's a doddle to put them in.

I would suggest putting in more than you think you'll need. I did this and it's still not enough.

I also added dedicated 6mm cabling for my compressor.