Any electricians

Do we have any electricians on site

 

You certainly do, what's up?

 

I have bought a post light and would like to wire it up, so have bought some armoured cable, but looking at the picture this cable is to big so what else do I need to buy? Can I use normal cable in the garden instead of armoured?

 

I'll pm mate

 

Well, he evidently doesn't like the fact that he's way out of his depth and that, funnily enough, electrics aren't easy and are best left to people who know what they're actually doing. Especially outdoors and anything with exposed metal parts.

The less said about the atrocity above, the better.

 

He may not have read your post yet ECFC , give him a day or so . Unless he has welded himself to the post light

 

You are both correct I have contacted a professional electrician as it's well out of my depth. As for your sarcastic post what's that about and why the attitude! I would of thanked you for the helpful information you provided like I do everyone else on here who has adviced me but you sir can kiss it!

 

Electrics are simple really. You get it right you live, you get it wrong you die

 

Using armoured cable for a ground or underground run was the right thing to do. Do not use 'normal cable' unless it's a well above-ground feed supported by a catenary. What you need to finish the job is a waterproof junction box with a cone and gland entry and then a length of twin and earth to connect to the light. A competent electrician ought to be able to finish the job for you at reasonable cost and with an hour or two depending on how the feed end is to be connected in your house.
If you are not sure what you are doing, then don't do it. A whack from 240 volts isn't funny and can be fatal.

My knowledge of current electrical regulations is well out of date now, but I was once an electrical engineer and worked on domestic to very high voltage transmission equipment in the mining industry.

Rather a shame that some replies to the original post were somewhat unhelpful as generally most members go out of their way to help.

 

I've done electrical jobs before but nothing thats outdoor so want it done right and safe. I think the sarcastic reply was because I didn't reply straight away to a pm he sent which was helpful and informative.

 

Please keep us up to date with the project bigbore, I for one have found your progress fascinating and inspiring
I hope to do a major change myself soon, with pond and Japanese theme too
Keep up the good work

 

He'd been on since I'd sent, that why I was narky. To be fair, I was jumping the gun in making an assumption, it just gets on my wick that so many people, not the OP as it seems, get hugely offended when you tell them to get a spark in, and think you're trying to rip them off, and that electrical work is easy.

I actually explained quite a lot about what he could and can't do, but it's all well and good being told things, but it's not as easy as it looks and problems aren't obvious until they cause a fire or kill somebody.

 

"Normal" cable as you put it, is fine if run properly above ground, either clipped or run in conduit. And if you want it done properly and tested, it'll take longer than an hour or two.

 

Complete and utter nonsense, all electricity is subject to the wiring regulations, from 12v (extra low voltage), 230-1000v (low voltage) up to 400Kv (high voltage).

Part P is also part of the building regulations covering new installations (part and full) and work in special locations. Outdoors work will be under BS7671 (otherwise known as the regs), cable depth is dependant on a number of factors, and ways of protection, but it isn't a necessity.

I am actually trying to keep the OP, his family and his pets alive, believe it or not, and he'll know that by the lengthy pm I sent him, not something I thought should be on an open forum as DIY electrical work IS NOT a good idea.