Is it safe to assemble an outdoor power supply

Where should an outdoor socket be installed?

In fact it is wise to have one at the back and one at the front of the property, which can be used for car washing equipment, power washers and other items such as vacuum cleaners. In this DIY guide we go through the steps involved in how an outdoor socket is installed.

Why do you need an exterior socket?

Correctly installed, an exterior socket is a very useful facility to have. It means you no longer have to run extension leads from inside the house, with the potential for tripping over them! It enables you to run electric garden equipment such as a lawn mower, hedge trimmer and various other items including power tools, in a far safer way.

Are outdoor sockets waterproof?

As an outdoor socket will be exposed to the elements e.g. water and moisture, to prevent it shorting out and causing untold issues with your home electrics it needs to be sealed and protected. To these ends, it should be at minimum IP66 rated meaning that it is waterproof and resistant to any dust ingress.

Do outdoor sockets need a RCD?

Due to this, an outdoor socket should be at minimum IP66 rated, making it water and dust resistant. Additionally, any outdoor socket MUST be protected by a 30mA RCD e.g. it must be wired off of a 30mA circuit with an RCD in your consumer unit. However if this isn’t the case then the socket itself must have its own RCD built into it.

Are outdoor sockets IP66 rated?

As we are dealing with electricity outdoors there is always the potential for it to come into contact with the elements, namely water and moisture. Due to this, an outdoor socket should be at minimum IP66 rated, making it water and dust resistant.

Can you take a garden circuit off an existing circuit?

It’s not recommended to take the garden circuit off an existing circuit through a fused spur. Ideally, the supply to the garden should be an independent circuit with an independent RCD or RCBO so that, if faults occur, tripping doesn’t affect the rest of the house.