Any sparkeys

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 19:50

Any sparkeys, need some help

I'm having a custom made desk and to match it going with an industrial look and feel on the multi power output

I've ordered these 10 MK METALCLAD 13 AMP SINGLE SWITCHED PLUG SOCKETS http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321007711851?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I want to join them togther, idealy using some metal tubing. Is there a fitting to go between thats precut perhaps? 25/30mm in length?

Also what wiring is best to use here?

Cheers

-BA- · 21 Jan 2013 at 19:53

So you are just making a workbench then?

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 19:54

-BA- said:
So you are just making a workbench then?

No, this is for the office. Just want the industrial look and feel inside

sparky05084 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:24

I do not know of anywhere that provides pre cut Conduit. The only alternative (provided you want it all to be in steel) would be to buy 9x 20mm Couplings and 18x 20mm Male Brass Bush.

This way, you could join up all the Sockets together. Where are you powering these up from?

Abraxaz1 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:30

they're designed for conduit.
They can be joined to gether with 20mm or 25mm pipe work which usually comes in 1 meter lengths.
They can be joined together with out conduit by using male and female couplers (glands).
You can knock the inserts out of the boxes to connect the conduit anyway you like.

My advice is to hirer a conduit bender and die from a tool hire shop makes bending and fitting so much easier. Also get a fish wire to help pull the cable through. Also try and get a coupler tool to tighten up the lock nuts and glands as its a royal pain the arse trying to get an adjustable in.

darael · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:33

Shower hose?

Abraxaz1 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:35

darael said:
Shower hose?

that in the business is called compex and is alright to use but lacks mechanical protection required in a workshop.

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:38

Abraxaz1 said:
that in the business is called compex and is alright to use but lacks mechanical protection required in a workshop.

But this is in house, in my spear room which is my office and the missies dressing room!

Abraxaz1 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:41

pyropetepete said:
But this is in house, in my spear room which is my office and the missies dressing room!

ahh, score to me for not reading. why did you order metal clad boxes?
You could have got some plastic for allot cheaper, plus had them sunk into the wall?

kingy666 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:47

These, one pack of ten

http://www.screwfix.com/p/20mm-galvanised-coupler-pk10/29385

and these, get two packs of ten(as sparky05084 suggested)

http://www.screwfix.com/p/male-brass-bush-short-20mm-pack-of-10/29963

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:49

Abraxaz1 said:
ahh, score to me for not reading. why did you order metal clad boxes?
You could have got some plastic for allot cheaper, plus had them sunk into the wall?

Re read, they going on a desk

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:52

kingy666 said:
These, one pack of ten

http://www.screwfix.com/p/20mm-galvanised-coupler-pk10/29385

and these, get two packs of ten(as sparky05084 suggested)

http://www.screwfix.com/p/male-brass-bush-short-20mm-pack-of-10/29963

Legend, I will get these tomorrow now. What wiring is advised?

sparky05084 · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:53

To wire this I would suggest using 2.5mm singles cable. You could use Twin and Earth 2.5mm2 on a 20A Radial. Is this basically going to power IT equipment?

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 20:58

sparky05084 said:
To wire this I would suggest using 2.5mm singles cable. You could use Twin and Earth 2.5mm2 on a 20A Radial. Is this basically going to power IT equipment?

2 pc's, laptop, speakers, screen, swith, ap, router, light. Home office stuff

sparky05084 · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:04

Ok. Is this going to be an independent wiring rig and just put onto a plug top (which I do not recommend at all) or wired on it's own individual circuit back to the mains?

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:06

sparky05084 said:
To wire this I would suggest using 2.5mm singles cable. You could use Twin and Earth 2.5mm2 on a 20A Radial. Is this basically going to power IT equipment?

Would be much less hassle to simply treat it like a custom extension lead and wire it too a 13A Plug with 2.5mm flex.
Provided the desks socket load doesn't exceed 3kW it will be fine.

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:07

All it is to be is a fancy multi gang extension from a single mains socket

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:08

C.R.A.Z.Y said:
Would be much less hassle to simply treat it like a custom extension lead and wire it too a 13A Plug with 2.5mm flex.
Provided the desks socket load doesn't exceed 3kW it will be fine.

Exactly this

kingy666 · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:14

Before you choose what cable to wire all the sockets together you might want to tell us how you will be supplying power to the 10 metalclad sockets?

Are you going to have a plug (so you will plug it into a wall socket) with some cable running to the first socket, if this is the case then you will need 1.5mm 3 core flex (which has a maximum current carrying capacity of around 18.5 amps (15 amps when enclosed in conduit) but will be protected by a 13 amp fuse in the plug). If you do use flexible cable then you will also need a compression gland on the first metalclad socket, this, when tightened around the flex will stop the cable being pulled out

Link
http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-male-comp-gland-white-20mm-pack-of-2/45943

If you use this 1.5mm flex then it may be a good idea to wire the rest of the sockets with the same cable as mixing flex with twin and earth cable (the flat grey stuff) does not give a good connection.

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:21

I would still over engineer it and use 2.5mm flex for the sake of a few extra quid.
Over engineering / belt & braces approach should always be carried out when dealing with electrics imho, especially when it's only going to cost a little bit extra.
You then don't need to worry about cable factors, volt drop ..etc ..etc

/16th Ed.