Outdoor electrical equipment saves a great deal of time and effort when doing jobs in the garden. From the hedge trimmers to electric paint sprayers there’s a huge range of tools available to speed up lengthily tiresome work. Having the right tools available is great, however the real problem can be where to plug them in!
Electrical cables are often passed through windows or over door thresholds for extension cables to be plugged in or the actual tool if the lead is long enough. Trailing cables are a hazard in themselves however if the cable is accidently shut in a door or window can cause damage to the protective sheathing around the wire which can compromise in the safety of the cable. This could also cause a kink in the internal wires meaning disruption in the electricity travelling through the cable.
An excellent solution to this problem is to install an outdoor socket for all of your outdoor electrical needs. Installing an outdoor socket eliminates the trailing cables running from the indoor socket. Outdoor sockets are also great to have at the front of your house making car maintenance and cleaning much easier. Trailing wires pose many dangers with children or pets around especially to the front of the house and there's a risk of them being drawn by curiosity to an open door.
Customers are often concerned about the safety of outdoor circuits when coming into contact with rain, dust and dirt which is inevitable. However outdoor sockets are manufactured with this in mind and built to withstand the elements, with lids and seals to protect the socket and preventing water or dirt being able to build up inside the socket and causing it to malfunction.
Outdoor sockets are IP rated and all outdoor sockets should have a minimum rating of 56. Many outdoor sockets will also include an individual RCD for additional safety to ensure that the power cuts off if any faults occur.
Installation of an outdoor electric socket should always be carried out by a qualified electrician. Your electrician will work with you to find the perfect placement for your outdoor socket. Generally, an electrician will prefer for the outdoor socket to be run directly adjacent to an indoor socket where possible. If this isn't possible there are alternative methods such as running a cable to the desired location encased in suitable conduit for protection.
All new installations must have an installation safety certificate to show that the installation has been done in line with building regulations.
Demand Electrical Services can offer our expert services when installing an outdoor socket in Darlington.
We are NAPIT and Part P registered and we can be found on the Registered Competent Persons register. We are fully qualified and insured to carry out all of your electrical work including the installation and certification required for installing outdoor sockets in Darlington.
