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Wiring a metal container

cydodimead
I have a job where the client wants some power and lighting in 2 containers in the yard of their unit. Conveniently there happen to be a couple of 16A single phase commando sockets (protected by RCBO's 16A 30mA) on the exterior wall of the unit a couple of metres from where the containers are located. Would I be right to treated the container as a Caravan? Supply to unit is TN-C-S (PME) so I don't want to export the PME earthing to the containers. I'm thinking the following to meet requirements.


1. Swap RCBO's for MCB's

2. Put 2 pole 30mA RCD in line (perfect bit of trunking on inside of building where I can put an enclosure with the RCD)

3. Small DB inside Container with MCB for twin 13A socket, and 2nd MCB for lights. All protected by double pole RCD. Earth from 16A socket on building not connected to container DB.

4. Earth stake from container DB through tarmac ground soil. Could I link bonding from one container to the other?


Having never wired a caravan pitch, caravan or container I just wanted to be sure I have read the regs correctly?
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    Certainly caravan-ish, or possibly a mobile/transportable unit or maybe just a separate TT'd outbuilding. Some of the details - e.g. all the double pole stuff for caravans is mostly because they might be taken abroad an connected to a non-polarised supply, or have foreign caravans with unpolarised wiring connected to our supplies - perhaps aren't critical in this case.


    Is there anything connected to the PME earthing system within reach of the containers? (e.g. lighting columns, EV charge points or air con/refrigeration units or perhaps the main building itself if of steel construction).


    Are there likely to be any services buried below the tarmac? (gas, water or cables?) - not just in terms of the risk of hitting them, but your rod picking up a PME voltage from the soil surrounding then.


    Also keep an eye on the need to ensure double/reinforced insulation for the live conductors as they enter the unit - so they can't cause a fault to the TT earthing system prior to the first RCD. (Especially if there's any risk of them being unplugged and plugged into a different socket that might not have an RCD upstream).


        - Andy.
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  • 0
    Certainly caravan-ish, or possibly a mobile/transportable unit or maybe just a separate TT'd outbuilding. Some of the details - e.g. all the double pole stuff for caravans is mostly because they might be taken abroad an connected to a non-polarised supply, or have foreign caravans with unpolarised wiring connected to our supplies - perhaps aren't critical in this case.


    Is there anything connected to the PME earthing system within reach of the containers? (e.g. lighting columns, EV charge points or air con/refrigeration units or perhaps the main building itself if of steel construction).


    Are there likely to be any services buried below the tarmac? (gas, water or cables?) - not just in terms of the risk of hitting them, but your rod picking up a PME voltage from the soil surrounding then.


    Also keep an eye on the need to ensure double/reinforced insulation for the live conductors as they enter the unit - so they can't cause a fault to the TT earthing system prior to the first RCD. (Especially if there's any risk of them being unplugged and plugged into a different socket that might not have an RCD upstream).


        - Andy.
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