Any sparkeys

[pyropetepete]

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

 

[pyropetepete]

So you are just making a workbench then?

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

 

[pyropetepete]

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!

 

[pyropetepete]

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]

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?

 

[pyropetepete]

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

 

[pyropetepete]

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

 

[pyropetepete]

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

 

[pyropetepete]

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.

You've hit the nail on the head.

Decent wall plug, 13a fuse and about 2m of cable. Had thought about a gland to be safer.

What is the best way to link each socket then?

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[pyropetepete]

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.

Kinda the idea. The desk is. The sockets are for the looks.
So 2.5mm is the stuff to have then?

 

[pyropetepete]

In parallel obviously, it's the only way to do it

Personally I would use 2.5mm, 13A is getting a little to close to 1.5mm cables current carrying capacity under certain circumstances. I doubt you would need a load of it either.

Sorry being a little thick. Can I get a cheeky paint drawing?

Also any cable recommend that screw fix sell?

 

[pyropetepete]

Grr screwfix website being rubbish, i will call them and order the bits. Cable they only do it by the real so ebay for length of it i think.

Thanks for the help so far, and sorry for being dumb. I normaly have a mate to do this but he's away on his hols.

This is just a slightly costly diy fancy looking industiral feel multi gang power extension thats all.

 

[pyropetepete]

Called Screwfix, got an order placed for local depo. Reallynice lass on thephone

http://www.screwfix.com/p/20mm-galvanised-coupler-pk10/29385 X1
http://www.screwfix.com/p/male-brass-bush-short-20mm-pack-of-10/29963 X2
http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-male-comp-gland-black-20mm-pack-of-2/80851 X1

Sockets have been dispatched as well.

 

[pyropetepete]

Below are some links of the power plug setup now the parts have arrived. Waiting for a spanner to make it a lot easier to do up. Will mount on a board to get done neatly. Might powder coat them. The front not sure. 9 shown as the 10th sadly was flat when post man delivered! As advised have ordered a CK Conduit Bush Wrench/Tool Bush King Spanner T4755.

 

[pyropetepete]

Where are your serrated washers?



This is not good enough, take it all apart and start again.

No one said anything about then. If I was to do it by the book where do they go?

 

[pyropetepete]

Looks like it's coming together nicely. Just remember to connect an earth wire to all those back boxes (hope you have plenty of cable!)

Each box will be earther. Daisy chained

 

[pyropetepete]

Using that many plugs should it not be a ring circuit

It won't be. It'll be just like a multi extension from Argos. In the 1st page someone said what it was. (Sorry on iPhone can't quote the post)

 

[pyropetepete]

It's under the desk on the back so won't be seen that much. Wait till you see the desk

 

[pyropetepete]

The washers go on the inside of the metal clad box, then secured down tightly with a metal bush using a bush-king spanner. If it is a painted metal clad box for example, the bush on it's own will not give you any earth at all. the serrated edges of the washer dig into the paint and provide the linking earth. You wouldn't need to earth each box from the socket if you did this, just the first box.

Of course, for good practice it is good to earth each box, and that is how it should be done IMO(but doesn't have to be). I like to earth each box individually as if an earth cable comes out of the first/second/third socket, the rest of the boxes will not be earthed. Doing both ways is a a bit of a "fail safe". If one way doesn't work, at least the current will pass through the boxes and find the nearest earth.

Ah ha. I might grab some just to do it right. It's metal after all!!!!

What size earth cable to link each one do you recommend? I will be using 2.5mm 3 core linking each socket anyway

 

[pyropetepete]

Where are you getting the supply from for these sockets? Cable Size & Length, MCB/RCBO size? Radial Circuit, Ring Circuit, Spur?

2m of cable. Std home wall socket is the supply with a normal 3 pin plug on it.

All this is a DIY mains extension. Nothin more

Just with an industrial look and feel!

You wont need the washers as your boxes aren't painted, just follow the diagram of the wiring above (in the thread) and put a 2.5MM earth wire from each of the little clamp screws in each socket into the earth wiring.
So that's from every socket into the wiring, that way you don't rely on the bushes to provide the earth link.

My boxes are already painted with a think silver paint. If I do repaint then something other be needed.