Outdoor & Garden Electrics

Outdoor electrics need to be designed for outdoor conditions

Electricity can make a garden far more useful — whether you want permanent outdoor sockets, carefully planned lighting, power to a garden office or a reliable supply for equipment away from the house. But outdoor installations are exposed to moisture, weather and a greater risk of accidental damage, so equipment selection and cable installation matter.

I'm Lee Ward, an independent electrician with more than 30 years' electrical industry experience. I install outdoor electrical systems with the same attention to testing, protection and workmanship as the installation inside your property.

Outdoor electrical work includes

Weather resistance, cable protection & RCD protection

Outdoor electrical equipment needs to be suitable for the conditions in which it will be used. That includes choosing appropriate weather-resistant accessories, using cabling suitable for external installation and protecting cables from foreseeable physical damage.

RCD protection is also an important safety measure for outdoor electrical use. I assess the existing installation and the proposed work so the protection, circuit design and equipment are appropriate rather than treating an outside socket or garden supply as an isolated add-on.

Power for garden offices, sheds, garages & workshops

A garden room or outbuilding may need much more than a single extension lead. The electrical requirements can include lighting, socket outlets, heating, IT equipment, tools and other loads, so the supply should be considered as part of the overall design.

Where necessary I'll assess the existing consumer unit, available capacity and proposed use before recommending the appropriate arrangement. Related work can be coordinated with consumer unit upgrades or other electrical installation work.

Garden lighting that works as well as it looks

Outdoor lighting can improve access, security and the appearance of a property. A good scheme considers where light is actually needed, how fittings will look in daylight, control methods and how the installation will stand up to the environment over time.

For more on the design side of lighting, see Lighting & LED Design / Installation.

Existing outdoor electrical problems?

Water ingress, damaged cables, deteriorated fittings and faults in garden circuits can cause intermittent tripping or loss of supply. If the problem isn't obvious, I can carry out electrical fault finding and testing to identify the cause before recommending the appropriate repair.

Testing, certification & Building Regulations

New or altered electrical work is inspected and tested as appropriate, with electrical certification provided for the work carried out. Where work is notifiable under the Building Regulations, the relevant notification requirements can be dealt with through the appropriate competent-person arrangements.

Outdoor & garden electrics across Dorset

I provide outdoor electrical work throughout my Dorset service area, including Wareham, Purbeck, Poole, Dorchester, Wimborne, Bere Regis, Blandford Forum, Lytchett and surrounding towns and villages.

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