Using old meter cable to shed

[roboputt]

Hi, I have a shed (old coal shed for Victorian property) which is across the driveway from the house. It has what I think is 25mm2 armored cable (looks like a meter tail) in it, that is connected to double socket in the shed, and to a plug socket behind the kitchen base cabinet!! Never knew where the power to the shed came from until ripping out the kitchen today, and finding this!

The shed is next to a car park space where I would ideally like to have my electric charger. The charger currently is at the side of the house - because I thought it would be too expensive today up and lay a cable.

The cable works fine, when you switch the plug socket off, everything dies, and never had any problem with the electrics.

So, I was thinking of getting a 10mm2 cable run to a junction box in the kitchen connected to this, and moving the EV charger to next to the shed which would be much better. I am laying floor in the next two days - need to make a call as to whether to buy and run the 10mm2 cable in the conduit from the consumer unit through to other side of the house where the kitchen is. I only want to buy it and slip it through if there is a good chance that cable can be used and a sparky would be willing to connect up to it and use it?

Any thoughts, or do I just disconnect and not only not have an EV charger, but now not have power in the shed either?

Thanks,
R

 

[roboputt]

It may not be 25mm2 but it's absolutely massive. About an inch wide with the armoring.

 

[ericmark]

I will assume a point missing, and it is 2.5 mm², however the rules seem to be changing week by week on charge points, so I would go for a duct with a draw string, so what ever is considered the new regulations when fitted can be complied with.

 

[Murdochcat]

Best get a local spark to come and take a look

 

[Risteard]

Absolutely no way that a 25mm^2 cable (or anything close to it) would fit in the terminals of a socket-outlet. 6mm^2 would be about the absolute maximum that would fit (assuming no second cable).

 

[JohnD]

Post some photos to show what you mean. Include something to show scale.

Also of the meter and incomer, and the consumer unit or switchgear in your house.

 

[roboputt]

Here are a couple of photos. I missed out that it comes into a 20amp junction box

 

[Murdochcat]

Here are a couple of photos. I missed out that it comes into a 20amp junction box

Wow that’s rough and not earthed

 

[endecotp]

It may not be 25mm2 but it's absolutely massive. About an inch wide with the armoring.

You're talking about the same cable in the photo? That really doesn't look anything like that big.

More importantly - it's not earthed!

Let's see inside the junction box. (Turn power off first.)

 

[JohnD]

SWA coming through the wall, frayed out like there might previously have been a gland on it, could be redone

I can't make out the cable type though.

Cores look red and blue, sheath looks grey or blue

Can we see a pic of the other end please

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

More importantly - it's not earthed!

Which probably means your double socket is without an earth..

Colours appear in the photo, to be a red and a blue. Irrespective of your need for a charge socket, that entire installation, at least to your shed, needs to be looked at properly, by someone qualified.

 

[JohnD]

I'm thinking rip it out and do it properly.

 

[roboputt]

Will post a closer photo - there is an earth, but someone cut it off so only using the red and blue. The other end is behind plasterboard and you can barely see it so won't be able to photo. But I will rip it out anyway.

Yes, the whole thing isn't earthed - so I I were to use it, would need to sort that out. It is close to the boiler and mains water of house if that is relevant.

I have two options:
1. Disconnect entirely and live without power in the shed.
2. Spend money on a sparky to come and use this connection in part

That cable goes under a 5 meter wide driveway, part of which is concreted over - so I'd never rip that up and start again as would be way too expensive. So if that is required, it will make my job easy and I just go with number 1....

 

[roboputt]

Here is the photo- you can just about make out the earth

 

[JohnD]

It looks like the cable is threaded through a duct. If you can get at the other end, you might be able to pull out the old and thread in new.

It will be relatively easy if the duct is straight and was not assembled with joints and elbows.