Last Updated on February 3, 2023
Have you ever wanted to know how to supply electricity to a garden shed, but weren’t sure where to start? With a few simple steps, it’s surprisingly easy to provide electricity and give yourself the power of convenience. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need in order to successfully supply electricity to a garden shed – from gathering materials all the way up until testing your work. So let’s get started.
Table of Contents:
- Gather the Necessary Materials
- Install the Outdoor Power Socket
- Connect the Extension Cable
- Test Your Work
- Conclusion
Gather the Necessary Materials
When it comes to supplying electricity to a garden shed, there are several materials you’ll need. The most important of these is an outdoor power socket. This is the device that will be used to plug in your extension cable and other electrical devices into the mains supply. It should be waterproof and designed for external use, as this will ensure it can withstand any weather conditions.
You’ll also need an extension cable so you can run the power from the mains supply to your garden shed or other areas where you plan on using electricity. Make sure you buy one with enough length for your needs; otherwise, you may find yourself having to purchase additional cables down the line if yours isn’t long enough.
Finally, a circuit breaker should be installed between the mains supply and your outdoor power socket. This is essential for safety reasons; if too much current passes through at once, then it could cause serious damage or even start a fire. Therefore, make sure that when buying one of these devices, it has been tested by an accredited professional and meets all relevant safety standards before installation begins.
Gathering the right materials is essential for a successful installation, so make sure to double-check that you have everything you need before moving on to the next step. Now let’s take a look at how to install an outdoor power socket.
Install the Outdoor Power Socket
Installing an outdoor power socket is a great way to bring electricity to your shed or other outdoor areas. This guide will help you do the job safely and correctly, so let’s get started.
Gather the Necessary Materials
Before you start drilling holes in your wall, make sure you have all of the necessary materials. You’ll need a drill, masonry bit, hammer and chisel (or rotary tool), screwdriver set, electrical tape, extension cable and an outdoor power socket. Make sure that everything is in good condition before beginning work.
Install the Outdoor Power Socket
Once you’ve gathered all of your materials, it’s time to install the outdoor power socket. Start by marking where you want to place it on the wall with a pencil or marker – this should be at least 30cm away from any water source, such as taps or gutters. Then use your drill and masonry bit to create a hole for the outlet box – remember not to go too deep. Once that’s done, insert the outlet box into position using the screws provided with it, then connect up wires inside according to instructions given with the product – making sure they are firmly connected together using electrical tape when needed. Finally, attach the faceplate over the top of the outlet box using the screws provided, again ensuring a tight fit around the edges so no moisture can enter through gaps.
Connect The Extension Cable
Now that your outlet box is installed securely in place, it’s time to connect up the extension cable from the main switchboard, which will provide an electricity supply for the new outside power point. First, locate the nearest existing switchboard, cut off the required length of cable, and strip back insulation, exposing two cores within – one black & one red wire- then twist them together tightly & cover ends with electrical tape before inserting into the terminal block located inside the switchboard. After doing this, connect other end of the extension cable into the terminal block located on the outside power point, ensuring the same colour wiring goes into the corresponding terminals, i.e. black wire goes into the left side & red wire right side, respectively.
Test Your Work
Finally, once everything has been connected properly, it is important that we test our work in case there were any mistakes made during the installation process, which could potentially cause harm if not checked first. To do this, simply turn on the main switchboard supplying electricity and then check voltage meter readings between live/neutral pins found on the outside power point. If the reading shows 240 volts, then the job has been completed successfully; otherwise, further investigation may be required.
Once the outdoor power socket is installed, you can now connect an extension cable to ensure your garden shed has a reliable source of electricity. Let’s look at how to do that in the next step.
Connect the Extension Cable
Connecting an extension cable from the outdoor power socket to a circuit breaker located inside the shed is a relatively simple task. Before you begin, make sure that you have all of the necessary materials: an extension cable, electrical tape, and wire cutters.
Once you have gathered your supplies, it’s time to start connecting your extension cable. Begin by unrolling your extension cord and plugging one end into the outdoor power socket. Make sure that it is firmly plugged in before continuing on with this step.
Next, take the other end of your extension cord and run it through any openings or holes leading into your shed until it reaches its destination -the circuit breaker box- located inside the shed. Cut off any excess length of wire using wire cutters if needed so that there isn’t too much slack hanging around outside of your shed, which could be hazardous for passersby or animals alike.
Now comes the time to connect both ends together securely, so they don’t come apart while in use; wrap some electrical tape around both ends where they meet each other and then again at least twice more along their length for extra security against water damage or corrosion due to weather conditions such as rain or snowfall over time if exposed outdoors often enough during winter months especially when temperatures drop below freezing levels regularly in certain parts of the UK, like Scotland.
Finally, test out whether everything works correctly by turning on and off switches connected to outlets near where the cables are connected. This is just to double check that the connections are secure before putting tools away after completing the installation process successfully without any issues arising afterwards.
Once the extension cable is connected, it’s important to test your work and make sure that everything is running properly before continuing with the next step.
Test Your Work
Once you have installed your outdoor power socket, it is important to test that the work has been completed correctly and safely. To do this, start by checking for any loose connections or exposed wires. If there are any visible signs of damage or wear and tear on the wiring, then these should be replaced immediately before use.
Next, turn off all electrical devices connected to the outlet before plugging in a lamp or other device with an LED light indicator. This will allow you to check if electricity is flowing through the circuit without having to worry about potential shock hazards from live current. Once plugged in, switch on the main power supply and check that the LED lights up as expected – if not, then further investigation may be required into why no current is passing through your circuit.
Finally, once everything appears to be working correctly, make sure that all covers are securely fastened over both outlets and cables so as not to create a fire hazard due to dust build-up inside them over time. Additionally, keep an eye out for water pooling around either end of your extension cable, which could indicate a problem with insulation within it – replace immediately if necessary.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your outdoor power socket installation has been done safely and effectively, so you can enjoy using it without worry.
Conclusion
Congratulations. You have now successfully supplied electricity to your garden shed. This will make it easier for you to work on projects or store items that require power. Now, all that’s left is to enjoy the convenience of having a powered shed and take advantage of the opportunities this opens up. So don’t forget to thank yourself for taking the time and effort to supply electricity to your garden shed – you deserve it.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.