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Overhead Power cable from my house to my barn

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi All


Sorry to jump straight in with a question - 


I bought a house in Wales with a stone barn 23m away from the house. The barn takes power from the house from the consumer unit via a overhead cable (currently not fit for purpose) which runs a few lights and a couple of sockets in the barn. All of the land involved is owned solely by me.


I've re-roofed the barn so had an electrician safely remove the power beforehand but I need to run power back to the barn now.


My electrician is telling me that I must bury an armored cable 3 feet under ground from the house to the barn otherwise it's "illegal". It is only 23m away but it's downhill from the house and there is a big change in level of the ground. To achieve 3 feel would mean taking a digger to my driveway and front garden which is going to be expensive and time consuming. 


Bearing in mind it's only going to be used to run some LED lights and a couple of sockets for my workshop (I'd say 45 amps absolute max - and can't see why it would get up that high to be honest) is he right to say I must bury an armored cable or can I reinstall some kind of overhead cable but in a compliant way?


Many thanks in advance for any advice - happy to add any clarification if needed


thanks - Jon
  • 0
    AJJewsbury:



     AFAIK the regs don't specify any particular depth - just something suitable to avoid forseeable disturbance,

     


    Not in 522.8.10, but one Part 7 section specifies minimum depth, and others contain notes with suitable guidance:



    • Agricultural/horticultural Reg 705.522 - 0.6 m, or 1 m for cultivated ground.

    • Caravan parks Reg Note 1 to 708.521.7.2 - 0.6 m (although this is only in a Note, so guidance)

    • Marinas Note to  709.521.1.7 - 0.5 m (although this is only in a Note, so guidance)

    • Shore supplies for inland navigation vessels Note 1 to Reg 730.521.101.3.1 - 0.6 m (although this is only in a Note, so guidance)


    In the general case, where the above does not apply:

    • Guidance Note 1, Section 5.7 generally recommends a minimum depth of buried cables

    • GN1 also makes reference to NJUG publication Guidelines on the Positioning and Colour Coding of Underground Utilities' Apparatus for cables under footways and carriageways. Under current guidance, LV should be > 450 mm beneath footway/verger, or 600 mm beneath a carriageway, and telecomms should be between 250 and 250 mm beneath a footway/verge, or 450 and 600 mm beneath a carriageway.

  • 0
    You could think about a suitable Split Concentric cable supported at each end with preformed wire wrap arounds (sometimes called Dead Ends).  I do not have the data to check what span you can have but 25m sounds doable.  This cable is used overhead with the preforms by DNOs.  Its available from wholesalers as are the dead ends (CEF). Its relatively light weight. Termination needs to be done carefully.  Sadly it was withdrawn from the tables in the regs a few years ago but that does not mean it cant be used, you just have to do a proper design. Manufacturers publish the necessary data. Particularly important to check the size of the cpc conductors if you are going to use them but a remote building may well have its own earth rods in any case.


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