SWA Armoured Cable
Discussion
I’m planning to run an SWA cable from my home consumer unit to the far end of the garden, in preparation for a hot tub to be installed later.
Is it simply a case of burying the cable at the correct depth (450 mm in the lawn / 600 mm under paths), then bringing it up, clipping it to the wall, and routing it back into the consumer unit?
Can the cable be installed and connected at the consumer unit now, even if nothing is connected at the garden end yet (assuming it’s safely terminated in a suitable enclosure)?
I’ll be using a qualified electrician, but want to make sure I’m asking for the right work.
Lastly it's a 20metre run, so I assume a 6mm SWA and a 32A RCBO is appropriate for a hot tub.
Is it simply a case of burying the cable at the correct depth (450 mm in the lawn / 600 mm under paths), then bringing it up, clipping it to the wall, and routing it back into the consumer unit?
Can the cable be installed and connected at the consumer unit now, even if nothing is connected at the garden end yet (assuming it’s safely terminated in a suitable enclosure)?
I’ll be using a qualified electrician, but want to make sure I’m asking for the right work.
Lastly it's a 20metre run, so I assume a 6mm SWA and a 32A RCBO is appropriate for a hot tub.
Yes, 6mm SWA is fine for that length of run and current.
If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you’ll probably want a Type C 40A ‘A’ RCBO.
SWA doesn’t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just “sufficient to avoid being damaged”.
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you’re going to use - he’ll need to sign it off.
If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you’ll probably want a Type C 40A ‘A’ RCBO.
SWA doesn’t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just “sufficient to avoid being damaged”.
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you’re going to use - he’ll need to sign it off.
surbiton said:
Yes, 6mm SWA is fine for that length of run and current.
If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you ll probably want a Type C 40A A RCBO.
SWA doesn t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just sufficient to avoid being damaged .
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you re going to use - he ll need to sign it off.
This is brilliant - thanks for that. Just one question, if the hot tub draws 32A, why would you use a 40A RCBO rather than a 32A?If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you ll probably want a Type C 40A A RCBO.
SWA doesn t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just sufficient to avoid being damaged .
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you re going to use - he ll need to sign it off.
SkinnyPete said:
surbiton said:
Yes, 6mm SWA is fine for that length of run and current.
If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you ll probably want a Type C 40A A RCBO.
SWA doesn t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just sufficient to avoid being damaged .
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you re going to use - he ll need to sign it off.
This is brilliant - thanks for that. Just one question, if the hot tub draws 32A, why would you use a 40A RCBO rather than a 32A?If you know who is supplying the Hot Tub in due course, ask them what their requirements are; usually it should be terminated in a rotary isolator switch at least 2m from the hot tub. When the hot tub is then installed they will run cable from the isolator to the hot tub.
You can connect it all up now and then leave the breaker switched off (and lock off the rotary isolator).
A lot of hot tubs draw 32A, so you ll probably want a Type C 40A A RCBO.
SWA doesn t have to be buried - can be left on the surface or clipped to a fence. If buried there is no actual specified depth - just sufficient to avoid being damaged .
Best to discuss and agree with the electrician you re going to use - he ll need to sign it off.
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