Power supply

[sweetpea]

My g'house is 100ft away from nearest power source. Previously for heating I relied on paraffin but as I also have a small electric heater I wondered if a 50 meter extension lead would cope for over winter. As i understand it they should not be left on permanently so any ideas welcome as long as they don't break the already cracked piggy bank.

something of this nature I was thinking but is it a good idea? link

[ladybird]

Has it got a safety cut out Sweetpea? you would need to keep the sockets and plugs dry perhaps put it inside plastic box or would that overheat the plugs. I gave up on the parafin as it was way to expensive and not enough heat and have an armoured cable running round the garden into the Greenhouse and it was expensive.

[keith]

Sweet pea Both of our sons are Electrical Contractors and have always said the longer the lead the more power you loose.

How is the lead getting the Glass House on the ground or off the ground via a few poles. The biggest concern could be the weather if out in the open 24/7. You can bury cable providing its done correctly and using the correct cable.

Personally I would talk to an Electrician and play it safe. It could be a very costly job if not done correctly and safely.

Keith

[grindle]

I've got cable running through a garden hose,then hooked up along the fence to avoid damage, been there now for 2 winters and is fine as the cable is protected sweetpea , if any work like the tree cutting the other week goes on, I just unplug it

[sweetpea]

Thanks for input all. Thinking cap is now going back on.

[sweetpea]

Have ordered one which apparently you can leave switched on all the time so will find out soon enough. meanwhile i fixed the broken panes in g'house with a sheet of polycarbonate which fitted perfectly so now its big clean up time to get g'house ready for winter.

Its this one link
So will see how it goes.
Both ends will be under cover so just the cable outdoors and even that will be tree cover.

[ladybird]

Will you have to drill a hole somewhere Sweet Pea like in a door frame in the house?

[sweetpea]

Jan 30, 2020 20:46:36 GMT ladybird said:

Will you have to drill a hole somewhere Sweet Pea like in a door frame in the house?

Will have to make a hole large enough for the plug to go through but not in the house. the power supply is in the shed housing the sockets for the pond filter and uv light etc. there is a spare socket available.

[roofgardener]

sweetpea, I've always just draped a cable out of my small window, across the roofgarden (well, around the edge of the lawn now), and into my polytunnel, and it's always been fine.

In THEORY, then YES, you lose power on a long cable. But providing it is a high-quality cable (e.g. quite thick), and is laid in a straight line (e.g. not coiled up), then the loss is absolutely negligible. You'd need special equipment to even detect it.

You don't need to cut a plug-size hole. Just remove the plug, put the cable through the hole, and put the plug back on again afterwards.

[sweetpea]

Feb 8, 2020 20:29:43 GMT roofgardener said:

sweetpea, I've always just draped a cable out of my small window, across the roofgarden (well, around the edge of the lawn now), and into my polytunnel, and it's always been fine.

In THEORY, then YES, you lose power on a long cable. But providing it is a high-quality cable (e.g. quite thick), and is laid in a straight line (e.g. not coiled up), then the loss is absolutely negligible. You'd need special equipment to even detect it.

You don't need to cut a plug-size hole. Just remove the plug, put the cable through the hole, and put the plug back on again afterwards.

Thought of that mate but already cut through but will seal it up like a grommet.
Doubt Ill be using it anyway until this stormy weather passes.