Workshop electrics question

[LarryS.]

i'm about to run a new ring main into the workshop. question is can I use simple plastic socket boxes (wall mounted) or do I have to use the metal equivalents ?

plastic : £1 each
metal : £10 each

I'm hoping the answers plastic !

 

[wizer]

I have plastic

 

[DavidE]

Hi Paul,

You’re responsible for ensuring that the installation will be suitable for it’s surroundings. My preference for a workshop would be Metalclad sockets. They are far more robust when there are metal clamps, pieces of wood flying round etc (or maybe I am just clumsy ).

On the same theme - make sure your cables are run so they are out of the way and/or have suitable mechanical protection. (Plastic conduit works well with the metalclad! )

(Sorry) Cheers
David

 

[Jake]

Mine are plastic. Metalclad is better of course, but OTT for a domestic workshop in my view. I've yet to damage a socket even slightly.

 

[motownmartin]

I used the metal ones but were only £4 each from screwfix

 

[Waka]

I had the plastic ones installed, never had any problems so far.

 

[PowerTool]

Same as Martin,went for the Screwfix metalclad (and as the workshop was an extention to an existing shed,also changed existing plastic for the same metal ones)
Never actually knocked any of them with anything in three years of use,so I'm sure plastic would have been fine.

My only comment would be - however many you think you need,double it...(I don't like having to plug/unplug things to use them,so have 8 double sockets in my fairly small workshop,although never have more than two or three things on at once)

Andrew

 

[SVB]

I have plastic - damaged one when trying to put up a 8' long x 2' deep board on the wall to hang tools on without any help but really that was my own fault.

Given to 10:1 price difference and I have 12 in the workshop I can break 119 more before I am out of pocket!

I would pick plastic again for home.

 

[Pete Robinson]

Metal ones would be much better and will take a good knock when you are swinging a length of timber around.

Try the toolstation as they are only £3.77

www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Met ... 190/sd3088

 

[plug]

I am using plastic but have mounted the in a dado trunking at 1 metre centres. Should have about 24 sockets plus 2 double floor sockets.

 

[LarryS.]

thanks for the replies all, after all the responses I think I'll go for plastic

plug, am interested in your trunking, what did you make the pieces out of to go behind the plywood ? is it 1x1 with a rebate taken out of a side ?

(may be an alternative to plastic trunking)

 

[plug]

I just used 50 * 25 par softwood with 12mm ply pinned to the face. The holes cut into the ply are small enough to fix the sockets to so I don't have to buy back boxes. I went with trunking so I can always add more if needed.

 

[chicken_house_man]

Cables should be terminated in a non flamable box so you may need to fit the back boxes. Yes I know they have screw holes in them