[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Looking at running a cable 75 metres from a house socket to a parking area at the bottom of our drive.

Not armoured cable because it isn't going to be permanent & wound up when not in use.

So looking at 2.5mm arctic cable - are there any concerns of voltage drop or anything else I ought to consider before ordering?

It will be for general power, @ 13 amp plugs, a compressor, power tools - not all at the same time, I understand about overloading the cable.

Lights will be 12 volt and solar powered so no issues with this one & successfully installed a 3 x 110 amp battery @ 240 watt van mounted system on works van, setting up a 1 panel 100 watt system is easy.

Anything I ought to look out for, adjust, not do.

[Kev Martin]

Rob not a sparky and I know SFA about it but my son Antony is.  He did something similar in my last unit and my son made sure it was in a protective sheath which he explained prevented any unwanted rodents who decided they might like a taste bothering with it.  I also think he put some sort of isolation fuse in as well.  I can ask him if you need more info.

Kev

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Appreciated if you will Kevin.

Just to cover everything.

Many thanks.

[Splash & dash]

Sounds like a job for a qualified electrician  he will them be  able to advise and  fit it according to current regs , if that’s not required then surely an appropriate extension lead would be ok ?

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Yes I agree but it's not a fixed set up and there aren't any 100 metres cable reels and or 2.5mm extension leads that can be bought off the shelf - if there are I can't see them.

If there aren't then that is the crux of the question - why aren't they available and are they not available because there is 'current drop' or something else.

It may be nothing to worry about and if I was on site I would put two reels together but ever cautious and with one eye on insurance and any failings better to know.

I cannot believe a non fixed, temporary set up to parking spaces could be defined by a qualified sparkie.

Mate you know as much as me and  definitely the way I was initially going to go until my head went into 'caution overdrive'.

There's a compressor and a heated cabinet being run from the supply, not both at the same time and the compressor only needs a 5 minute blast for each project but the cabinet & low wattage warming pads could be on overnight.

I live rural - we cannot get qualified anything to even come out to do 'proper' jobs, never mind something this wooly.

If I can't get clarity I will speak to the sparkie that eventually turns up to do my bollard light & spotlight set up next to the house, he was due this week but he isn't going to get here before midnight tonight so definitely running late and in keeping with anyone else we try to get out here.

I can get on with the solar in the meantime.

[Smudger]

As long as you use the 2.5 Artic flex your power drop will be around 3.5% when using less that 1kw of power it will be just over 4% when using more than this

best advice is but I roll of 100 meters and make your own reel - all you need to do is wire a plug on each end and use an RCD

I Brough blank reels off Ebay for 10 quid - they hold 30 meters - but I'm sure a plastic hose reel holder would do the job - you will always need to reel out the entire length to use it tho

Darran

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

As I thought Darran.

Nice to have it confirmed.

Won't be any brakes in the cable so ordered and now waiting.

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Looking at a slightly different angle on this.

Found a 16 amp, 3 pin extension, that is about 25 metres (part of clearing some crap out), with a 16 amp to 13 amp adaptor at plug end & RCD will this compensate for any drop.

I'll be able to tape over any join of the 3 pin plugs.

Certainly a much beefier lead.

[Smudger]

Depends on the cable size I would say

Darran

[Matt.]

Long term solution is to get an inverter in ur van but to power gutter vac or other equipment that’s around the 3.5kw u will need something along the lines of 7000w inverter.
If ur going to just run the cable along the floor from a building  ( which we have all done ) then feed it through some hose to protect the cable and others. If u have to join multiple extension cables together, then were u have the join and plug exposed u can use suton like an anchor butter tub, drill hole in the side feed cables in and attach plugs connect up and clip lid on .... or be more professional but u get my drift