A weather resistant box for mains PSU in the garden

[www.GymRatZ.co.uk]

Hi folks Quick over-view I have 3 x DC pond pumps that have lap-top style bricks (slightly longer and thinner than a typical laptop PSU) connected to mains by regular kettle lead so not designed for out-door use but that's where they are going so I'm looking for ideas to box them in safely ideally with ventilation (louvred). They're going in a 3 sided concrete box which will in time have a lid and a sleeper front extending slightly over the pond see

(dropbox link) The drum filter will take up 3/4 of the lintel floor space. Another view of the chamber would be: Closest thing I've found is the following but seems like overkill considering I'm going to have to run 3 mains cables through glands and the fact it wouldn't offer any ventilation so no point spending loads on IP65 to cut holes in it is there? Each pump on max. output runs around 85W but only 2 will be flat out and the 3rd is on a skimmer so running perhaps 1/4 power so I don't yet know how much heat will be produced by the PSUs but any heat that can escape will help keep things warmer in winter (along with heat from air pump) once I've insulated the walls and lid. Or... sudden thought, what about individual IP rated boxes for each transformer which might negate the requirement for ventilation...

Cheers Pete@

[Scott M]

Yes, heaven forfend that Pete's pond catches fire.

[Robin]

Can you point to any authority for insurers refusing to pay because of uncertificated electrical work which was not a cause of or an exacerbating factor in a fire? It is frequently stated that absence of electrical certification invalidates house insurance - mainly by those with a vested interest. But I've yet to see any legal authority for such a blanket denial and it goes against the general rule that faults have to to be relevant. Hence eg car insurers cannot deny a claim after an elephant sits on your car just because one tyre was a bit bald.

[www.GymRatZ.co.uk]

:¬)

I'm sure there would be a whole host of small print exclusions exempting today's insurance policies from coughing up for anything regardless as to whether or not any electrical work was certified or not.

[Robin]

"I am sorry but the certificate for that work was destroyed in the fire caused by the cheap imported power supply - probably with fake CE, BS etc markings - I bought last year. I think it's a pity that such equipment doesn't have to come with paperwork which can be verified. Someone ought to do something about that."

[John Rumm]

My reason for suggesting records be kept was not in case you want to justify your actions to officialdom later, but more because firstly it forces you to be more methodical - its less easy to forget a circuit when you have them all listed in front of you, and secondly, it gives you a historical point of reference to go back to should you observe changes in performance later.

[Robin]

No argument from me on that given that I'm so sad that after fitting a new porch light this afternoon I re-measured R1, R2, Rn and Zs. Same bloody cable but I just couldn't stop myself checking :((