Shed Lighting!?

finks · October 13, 2007, 03:34:40 PM

HI all, I have a shed but it had no electricity supply to it -now I could run an extension cable down to the bottom of the garden but don't really fancy that idea.

Was thinking of purchasing some of those stick on lights- little round things that IKEA and Home base sell and probably a few other places. BUT I want them obviously to give off enough light to work not just to show where the light is.

So as the dark nights are coming in was wondering if any one had any inspiration as to how to light up my shed?

One Key Beads · October 13, 2007, 05:55:26 PM

Hi-ya finks,

Don't be afraid of runnning a cable up the garden. I have been doing it since February, (about 55ft) in all weathers without a hitch. Just be careful to get a heavy duty extension cable with a circuit braker, the sort of thing electricians and work people use. Mine has 4 plug sockets and that is only just about enough.

My set up works a treat, until I can get something else sorted out, but if I don't I'm truely not that bothered. Sooner spend the money on glass, frit, presses..........

Richard · October 13, 2007, 06:16:02 PM

My father has had an extension cable running to his for the past 35 years and has never had a problem, he has a length of wire from the house to the shed fixed tightly and the cable is attatched to that.

Vicki · October 13, 2007, 06:55:40 PM

my hubby was naughty & ran the extention under the gravel through a pipe to my shed...its not very far, just a couple of feet, but i don't think its strictly legal, but it works just fine & as long as the housing association don't come round for an inspection we'll be fine

Carrie-Jane · October 13, 2007, 06:59:31 PM

Quotemy hubby was naughty & ran the extention under the gravel through a pipe to my shed

This what my Dad did for his pond, just dug a small trench in the lawn and ran it through some pipe. He had a proper outside socket put on the outside wall of the house so he could plug in tools etc or unplug the pond pump for cleaning.

Also I just thought my husband has a big torch thing that runs off batteries and when you pull the top and bottom apart it will stand up on the floor or a desk like a worklight. They might have something like that in B&Q.

GlassOcean · October 13, 2007, 07:59:31 PM

You have probably already thought of this, but..............

If you are going to dig in your cable, either put it in protective ducting, bury it 12" deep or mark along the whole length of the cable so you will avoid any gardening accidents in the spring!! I used to work installing cable tv and most of our spring work came from repairing badly buried/marked cables!

Vicki · October 13, 2007, 10:13:58 PM

our wire is buried in plumbers pipe, my shed is literaly out the back door & into the shed, we put it on the patio as the grass is raised & the nieghbours would prob complain esp if they knew I had fire in it aswell, I expect they wonder whats going on in there

One Key Beads · October 14, 2007, 12:39:41 PM

Quote from: Vicki on October 13, 2007, 10:13:58 PM
our wire is buried in plumbers pipe, my shed is literaly out the back door & into the shed, we put it on the patio as the grass is raised & the nieghbours would prob complain esp if they knew I had fire in it aswell, I expect they wonder whats going on in there

Ha Vicki, our neighbours suddenly had the urge to clear out gutters, cilp high hedges and inspect fences when I got my shed (sorry, studio). I put it towards the top end of the garden for maximum irritation to the neighbours, preachie, self rightous, do as I say not as I do crowd of poobags that they are. Coincidentaly, it was also the best place for me to park the shed. We only live here to lower the tone.

Jeanette

Carrie-Jane · October 14, 2007, 02:29:55 PM

Too right Jeanette.

When husband and I bought our first house (3 houses ago) we were the youngest in the road and the neighbours got together to decide what colour fence paint we should all use! Next door was a policeman and came round to tell us what colour to paint our fence. We left it for ages and eventually when I went to B&Q we decided we liked the colour they'd choosen best (not so much choice back then!) but made them sweat for a while.

When we sold up the neighbour asked us what the new buyers were like and all about them. I told him jokingly that they were in the "mobile fast food catering industry"!. You should have seen his face!

finks · October 14, 2007, 05:53:09 PM

Ok - soundslike I am going to have to get digging!
Or might just run my extensinon cable that I use for the lawn mower down- It has a circuit breaker on it and think it is a fairly decent one, my dad made me get it all so it was safe, he thinks I am likely to mow over the cable!!
He was so concerned about this that he brought his lawnmower round and mowed the lawn for the first few times till I pointed out all the other things I do i my life that haven't resulted in me blowing myself up!

Vicki · October 14, 2007, 06:23:33 PM

Quote from: One Key Beads on October 14, 2007, 12:39:41 PM
Quote from: Vicki on October 13, 2007, 10:13:58 PM
our wire is buried in plumbers pipe, my shed is literaly out the back door & into the shed, we put it on the patio as the grass is raised & the nieghbours would prob complain esp if they knew I had fire in it aswell, I expect they wonder whats going on in there

Ha Vicki, our neighbours suddenly had the urge to clear out gutters, cilp high hedges and inspect fences when I got my shed (sorry, studio). I put it towards the top end of the garden for maximum irritation to the neighbours, preachie, self rightous, do as I say not as I do crowd of poobags that they are. Coincidentaly, it was also the best place for me to park the shed. We only live here to lower the tone.

Jeanette

hehe, they sound like a right nosey lot

I wouldn't care, but we live in a housing association house & if I got a complaint & they saw the home done electrics & that i had a blow torch, propane in a wooden shed they'd prob shut me down. Most of the neighbours are cool anyway, but one that lives over the road from me talks to the council before she'd come to me with a problem

turnedlight · October 14, 2007, 07:02:24 PM

My neighbour's shed is fairly close to the house, and has a heavy duty cable suspended from above the back door to the shed. It's regularly inspected, connected to it's own cicuit breaker in the fuse cupboard, and is perfectly legal - runs lighting and sockets galore!

One Key Beads · October 15, 2007, 07:05:21 AM

quote author=finks link=topic=3991.msg72274#msg72274 date=1192380789]
Or might just run my extensinon cable that I use for the lawn mower down- It has a circuit breaker on it and think it is a fairly decent one, my dad made me get it all so it was safe, he thinks I am likely to mow over the cable!!
He was so concerned about this that he brought his lawnmower round and mowed the lawn for the first few times till I pointed out all the other things I do i my life that haven't resulted in me blowing myself up!
[/quote]

Finks, that's what I do. It's a bit of a pain having to set it up and take it in, but it only takes a minute or two. One of these days, we'll get to move from this house (only wanted to move for 24 years, we've been here for 241/2 years) then I'll set up properly with a leckie supply to the shed/outhouse. 'Till then.

Jeanette

Shed Lighting!?

Richard