Garden Works 2022 - 02
Carrying on from Part 1 with the garden electrics.
I have split this article into two sections, In the garden and and In the cupboard.
This hopefully will give better continuity of the works that have been done. Starting In The Garden
IN THE GARDEN
Back to it, here Robert is sorting out the conduit and power for the pond mister and pond lights.
He tells me he knows where everything is. All that lot just for my garden electrics.
This time sorting out the conduit and cable the trough misters and light.
Back to the boxes, more connections.
The trough all sorted, light and mister wired up.
From time to time I need to be able to move the bridge and if the lights and electrics are connected on it, it would cause issues, so I came up with this framework that sits underneath the bridge. with the electrics including the lights fixed on it.
This serves two purposes firstly when necessary I can move the bridge without interfering with the electrics and secondly it adds extra support for the bridge, Incidentally the framework is not fixed in place so this can also be moved if need be.
The track has always been connected using LGB track connectors, here Robert is replacing them with permanent soldered connections.
In this junction box Robert is connecting the cables for the Spoke Bridge lights, the track side lights, and canal spotlights, all are individually switchable. The track side and canal spots were originally solar power.
For those who are curious why we call it the spoke bridge, the reason is simple it is made with bike wheel spokes.
Connecting the power lead to the bridge.
You will have noticed the gap in the track base where the bridge crosses it. This does have a practical reason as previously mentioned. It is getting increasingly difficult for me to step over the track when I need to cut the grass, so the bridge lifts off. This created issues with continuity of the power to the track, and the power for the lights in the bridge.
Firstly the track power has been sorted by Chris, there are 4 brass connector plates to replace the normal track joiners, 2 at each side of the gap the track fits snuggly inside these. The bridge is held secure and locked in place with 4 small door bolts.
the brass rail joiners and connection for the bridge lights
Underneath the bridge this is the power connection for the lights.
Final connections being made before we go inside.
All done outside, no need to open the boxes again, providing everything is connected correctly, some checks have obviously been made as the work progressed.
IN THE CUPBOARD
The cupboard prior to the works.
Top left the MTS control centre for the railway and to the right the transformer. The left switch is the original switch for the garden mains extension including the pond pump and UV clarifier. To the right is the switch for the track control station .
With the bottom flap down showing the original wiring and RCD.
In this picture all the cables for the works being done have been fed through from the garden. Some with tags on, to help Robert identify them later.
The old RCD has been taken out, to be replaced with a new consumer unit. And the flap taken out to cut the holes for the new switches backboxes.
Switch back boxes fitted.
Preparing the new consumer unit.
Installing the new consumer unit.
The new consumer unit consists of a 16amp RCBO, a 10 amp MCB and a 5 amp MCB.
Flap back in its place.
As you can there are 13 switches, and now Robert has the unenviable task of wiring them up, fortunately he does have a wiring diagram.
Nearly finished, there are actually 3 main circuits, the external mains, fed by the switchable 13 amp socket, and the low voltage fed through the smaller 5 amp plug. The third is for the track.
Almost finished.
One more addition, the power for the track in the white junction box top right. This is kept as a separate circuit.
Now all finished, everything tested and working.
This is a guide to the thirteen switches on the front panel
There are still a few jobs for me to finish and when completed I will make a small update - Garden Works 2022 - 3
Published 27/08/2022