electric help needed

michaelcaine · 07-02-2007, 09:57 AM

hi all,ive just taken on a garage from the council,the only power it has is a light supply,my question is,can i come off that and fit a socket for power tools?

Jon Fuller · 07-02-2007, 10:12 AM

It rather depends on how big these power tools are.

I expect you'd get away with 'hand tools' like drills, angle grinders, charging a cordless drill etc, but wouldn't reccomend goin crazy.
I'd add that by saying this, I'm in no way saying "it is ok to do this". Just saying what I think might be feasable.

If it were me, I'd be doing it, but keeping things sensible. do you know where the fuses/breakers are, incase you overdo it, and wind up without any power tools, or light!

JF

Tony Davis · 07-02-2007, 10:14 AM

So the kettle and sandwich toaster are a NO then?

Jon Fuller · 07-02-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

So the kettle and sandwich toaster are a NO then?

I would think not!

No good as a work place for you and I nobba, eh!

michaelcaine · 07-02-2007, 11:14 AM

haha,i like the covering my arse quote in case it goes bang!
havnt got a clue where the fuses are,small power tools like drills is what id be using and ofcoarse a kettle and toaster!

all for the sum of £8.00 a week he he!

Burty · 07-02-2007, 11:50 AM

you need to look at the cable size dude, i suspect the whole row of garages are all from the same supply, how many garages are in the row??
if they all have just lights then it will be a 10amp fuse max this is ok if no one else is around as there light wont be on but i think you will struggle to run anything off of it as most power tools will require around 3 amps and that will be at least a 1/3 of the whole supply. Defo not enough to run a kettle or heater.

Tony Davis · 07-02-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelcaine

haha,i like the covering my arse quote in case it goes bang!

It won't go bang, it'll just blow the fuse/pop the breaker! Which you'll almost certainly not be able to access.

I'm talking from experience here, I used to have a row of garages in Kensington that I rented out, and you wouldn't believe what people try to do in them.

Chest freezers seemed to be the most popular, although one tenant had a tropical fish tank, and then said I was to blame when the fish died!

Jon Fuller · 07-02-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

one tenant had a tropical fish tank, and then said I was to blame when the fish died!

Well you did pour battery acid in the tank! So you're hardly blameless.

It seemed an extreme way to get your electicity bill down!

Tony Davis · 07-02-2007, 12:04 PM

Had a mate from school that put alka seltzer in his goldfish bowl, thought they'd enjoy a bubble bath.

michaelcaine · 07-02-2007, 12:06 PM

perhaps a geny then! lol

Matt · 07-02-2007, 12:50 PM

I bought a 3kw genny from ebay. Put quite a few hours on it when working on the formula and it's brilliant. Just about small enough to lift, but just about big enough to power most things together.

For heating, B&Q have got a 10.5kw propane heater with a regulator for 80 quid, works very well, and it only needs enough power from the mains to drive the fan. Also powerful enough it doesn't take half a day to warm the garage up enough you can work in it.

Tony Davis · 07-02-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

For heating, B&Q have got a 10.5kw propane heater with a regulator for 80 quid,

Can you toast crumpets on it?

Matt · 07-02-2007, 01:38 PM

I reckon so - but much easier to just fire up the gas bbq.

michaelcaine · 07-02-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

Can you toast crumpets on it?

havnt got any work to do?

Matt · 07-02-2007, 03:05 PM

Crumpet toasting is a very important job