How should electrician run power to shed?

[WYOMINGCC]

We are in the process of getting power to a shed. First section is pole then underground run to fence line. Sparky says fixing conduit to shared timber paling fence is OK as area is tight and no room to dig then over to new power board. 
I’m not convinced this is to code? Any electricians on here? Thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @WYOMINGCC,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Not being an electrician myself, I couldn't answer whether it is to code or not, but it doesn't really sound like a great solution, regardless of whether it is allowed or not. I would assume running everything underground in the correct style of conduit would be a much safer solution.

Allow me to tag @CSParnell, @MikeTNZ, @R4addZ and @Dave-1, who are either electricians or have worked in similar industries, to see if they know the answer.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @WYOMINGCC 

With the hesitation of not seeing the area involved I would still say nope to running along a timber shared fence. For a whole bunch of reasons.

Preference would be a trench or pole to pole.

Dave

[R4addZ]

hi @WYOMINGCC 

If your sparky is qualified and can certify the job, then you have no real worry but I would make final payment only on certification. It doesn't sound the best but who are we to contradict a licenced sparky.

I would be getting a second quote though.

Any chance of a mud map and some photos as we may be able to assess the options better that way.

[CSParnell]

@WYOMINGCC 

Same as others had to make a judgement on someones call especially without seeing it. From regulations it has to tick the requirements of mechanical protection, trip under fault conditions, not cause risk to living beings eg. Protected by a RCBO., not be affected by undue stress eg the movement of the fence opening the conduit up over time..

Second quote / opinion never goes astray. At the end of the day you need to feel comfortable with the plan and the installation if it doesn't feel right the. Trust that. 

[MikeTNZ]

Hi @WYOMINGCC 

Can we please get some photos of what this actually looks like?

As an Electrician it is very hard to work this out with mere words. 

Cheers, 

Mike T. 

[MikeTNZ]

Hi @WYOMINGCC, 

I've just read your 1st post again and running a power cable along a fence, wether it's in conduit or not, doesn't sound that safe.

Especially if anything happens to the pole or the fence, with wind or whatever. 

Really this cable should be buried underground so that it is out of harms way, to say there is no room to dig a trench sounds like laziness.

Heaps of electricians like myself have done jobs like this before, yes it is a pain to do, but no-one wants a poorly installed/unsafe job either.

Can you please post some pictures of the area where this electrical work is going to be carried out? 

Cheers,

Mike T.