We carried out a comprehensive electrical installation for a local farm near St Columb Major, providing robust power and lighting solutions for their workshop, polytunnels, and greenhouse. This project involved fitting a new consumer unit, running extensive armoured cabling, and installing practical LED lighting and weatherproof sockets to support their agricultural operations.
Getting the right electrical setup on a farm is about more than just having lights and power; it’s about creating a safe, durable, and functional system that can handle the demands of an agricultural environment. On a recent job at a farm in the St Columb Major area, we undertook a significant electrical installation designed to power several key areas of the operation. The work centred around providing reliable power from a central workshop out to a large greenhouse, two polytunnels, and a water storage facility.
The foundation of the new system was a modern 15-way consumer unit, which we installed in the main workshop. This unit is equipped with a Surge Protection Device (SPD), a component that guards the entire installation and any connected equipment against voltage spikes that can occur on the grid. Each circuit is also protected by its own RCBO, which offers combined protection against both overcurrents and earth faults, a vital safety feature in any setting, but especially one where moisture and heavy-duty equipment are common. From this new hub, we distributed power across the site.
A substantial part of the project involved laying a considerable amount of steel wired armoured (SWA) cable. This type of cable is designed for direct burial and offers excellent mechanical protection, which is a necessity on a working farm where ground can be disturbed by machinery or digging. We ran separate SWA supplies to each location, using different cable sizes appropriate for the load and distance. For instance, a heavier-duty 6mm cable was used for the 100-metre run to the water storage container to handle the power required there without significant voltage drop, while 4mm cable was sufficient for the polytunnels and greenhouse. The client handled the trenching, and the cables were buried at the correct depth with warning tape to prevent accidental damage in the future.
At each of the remote locations – the greenhouse and the two polytunnels – we terminated the armoured cable and installed IP66-rated two-gang sockets. These weatherproof outlets are completely protected against dust and powerful jets of water, meaning the farm staff can safely use electrical equipment like propagators, heaters, or irrigation controllers without worrying about the damp conditions inside.
Back in the workshop, we addressed the need for better visibility by installing four 4ft LED batten lights. We split these between the two main sections of the workshop, providing bright, even light that makes any task safer and easier. All the internal wiring for the lights and switches was neatly housed in white PVC conduit, keeping it protected from any potential knocks and scrapes. We also connected the new AC distribution system to the farm’s Victron inverter, integrating it into their existing power setup. Upon completion, we carried out a full set of tests on all the new circuits and issued an Electrical Installation Certificate to confirm everything complied with the current wiring regulations.
