Consumer units and equipment outdoors

gkenyon: 
 

I think you have missed the point of my whole post, in that a drain hole may well be required and the decision is not simply based on hole = bad, no hole = good; now that is a generalisation - a charge that cannot be attributed in any fathomable way to

          Most of these sockets end up on outside walls of houses, so unless it is a jet washing area such as decking, any notional reduction in IP , in respect of moisture entering from outside, is minimal , reflected in the guidance given by the manufacturer. IP55 may well still be more than adequate for where and how the socket is. Do not be tied to maintaining the sockets rated IP in all circumstances, unless it is absolutely required.

 As the issue from some seems to be a simple drain hole compromises the IP65/66 rating, what would appear to be an IP55 “drain vent plug” will do that anyway. But that is not really the point is it, as the decision on what you do to the enclosure is formed by the likely site conditions and its intended use and this is reflected in the notes in the manufacturers instructions.

In any event, why be tied to “5mm hole”?  It is not something I mentioned. A smaller hole may suffice.  Why this fixation with conduit? My alledged generalisation  will be familiar to those that have been asked to install an outside socket on the rear of houses, usually back to back to an existing internal one with the slope of the cable run being to the outside and then the new socket being the lowest part….

gkenyon: 
 

I think you have missed the point of my whole post, in that a drain hole may well be required and the decision is not simply based on hole = bad, no hole = good; now that is a generalisation - a charge that cannot be attributed in any fathomable way to

          Most of these sockets end up on outside walls of houses, so unless it is a jet washing area such as decking, any notional reduction in IP , in respect of moisture entering from outside, is minimal , reflected in the guidance given by the manufacturer. IP55 may well still be more than adequate for where and how the socket is. Do not be tied to maintaining the sockets rated IP in all circumstances, unless it is absolutely required.

 As the issue from some seems to be a simple drain hole compromises the IP65/66 rating, what would appear to be an IP55 “drain vent plug” will do that anyway. But that is not really the point is it, as the decision on what you do to the enclosure is formed by the likely site conditions and its intended use and this is reflected in the notes in the manufacturers instructions.

In any event, why be tied to “5mm hole”?  It is not something I mentioned. A smaller hole may suffice.  Why this fixation with conduit? My alledged generalisation  will be familiar to those that have been asked to install an outside socket on the rear of houses, usually back to back to an existing internal one with the slope of the cable run being to the outside and then the new socket being the lowest part….