What cable do I need for outdoor lights?

Question

I'm running power out to the shed and putting two wall lights on the back of the house. What cable should I use outside?

Derrie · Accepted Answer

The cable running to the shed should be SWA (Steel Wire Armour) as it will be exposed to mechanical damage or buried underground, once at the shed the lights can be ran HO7 flex if clipped external or twin and earth cable if ran inside the shed, if ran on the outside it need to be HO7 as it need to be UV rated, thanks.

Franck · Answer

Hi there ,
I will not recommend you to do it , you are not Qualified electrical engineer to do this work , my advice to you get an Qualified electrical engineer to do it for you .

Thank you

Leon · Answer

You would be looking at either swa or HO7, hope this helps

Oliver · Answer

Feed to shed in SWA (steel wire armoured). Either buried or clipped to a suitable wall or structure.

Wall lights on the house - ideally use twin and earth, drill through the wall (downward angle from inside to out)  and put twin and earth through hole, will no twin and earth cable showing outside. Or as mentioned on the other answer H07 flex if it’s going to be clipped on the outside of house

Milo · Answer

Depends on a number of variables, but H07 is probably expensive overkill for a couple of lights, and swa only required if it's liable to be damaged, also depends on light type... If it needs to go underground then swa is a must, but if the shed adjoins house, or there's a wall going between house and shed that can be used to clip then just a normal 3 core 1mm black flex would be my thinking. One thing to bear in mind is that if the power is being taken from a socket circuit then a spur to fuse down to 3a will be required.

Garry · Answer

hi ideally an swa cable which should be  buried in the ground if  possible

Craig · Answer

Power cable should be designed for external use, outside wall lights if run internally (cable) is standard t+e cable

Cafer · Answer

If it is only for installing lights you will need a 1.5mm armour cable 
thank you

Ryan · Answer

As long as it external cable if it’s not in containment, anything from 1mm to 1.5 mm depending on length and lights …??

Jimmy · Answer

SWA or hi-tuff cable. I would not recommend using Twin and Earth outside, as it is not designed to be out in the elements.

What cable do I need for outdoor lights?

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