Don’t Forget the Garden Shed!

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Nothing is quite as annoying as having to retrieve something, or put it away in a garden shed at night when there is no light. You could get a torch, but then you only have one hand free. Charging your cordless tools also poses a problem if there is no power outlet in the garden shed. In other words, a garden shed with electricity is so much handier than one with no power whatsoever. Let us walk you through a properly-designed garden shed.

The Feed Cable

First of all, you need a feed cable between the switchboard in your home and the garden shed. In most cases, this cable is buried in the ground. Your installer can inform you about the exact minimal depth of the cable for your region or country. It may require a considerable ditch to be dug. Therefore, it is better to lay the cable before the garden is installed. To prevent future accidents when digging in the garden, it is advisable to cover the cable with plastic tiles or bricks.

The core section of the cable depends upon what you plan on doing in your garden shed (i.e. the power you will need) and the length of the cable. Remember, the longer the cable, the larger the loss of voltage. In certain cases, a bigger cable is advised.

A Switchboard

The cable should be connected in the garden shed to the main switch in a water-resistant switchboard. Sufficient room is necessary for a residual current device and some automats. The size again depends upon the types of tools and machines you plan on using in and around your garden shed.

Lighting and Power Sockets

For a small garden shed that will only be used for storing garden tools, one water-resistant lighting fixture and one water-resistant power plug will suffice. The latter can, for instance, be used for an electrically powered lawn mower or hedge trimmer.

For a bigger garden shed that is also used to do odd jobs, it is advisable to install both main lighting and a separate lighting fixture above the work bench. The number of power plugs will depend upon the number of tools or machines you plan on using. Do you like to listen to the radio while you are working? Make sure you have a socket for that.

Switches

Each lighting point needs a water-resistant switch. For the power plugs at the work bench, a switch with a warning light is best. When leaving the garden shed and turning off that switch, you can rest assured that all of the machines and tools are safely shut down.

Internet in the Garden Shed

When doing odd jobs or gardening, you may want to check on how things are done or when certain plants or crops are best planted, when they are in bloom, or when they need to be harvested. Chances are that the WiFi in the house does not reach the garden shed. A wired connection with a data connection point in the garden shed is desirable.