Correct starting load and cable sizing
Motors and heavy plant draw high initial inrush currents. Sizing conductors and protective devices correctly prevents nuisance tripping and keeps voltage drop within acceptable limits.
Machinery and equipment power in Eastleigh
Installing new machinery or relocating commercial equipment? MCI Electrical designs and installs the dedicated power supply, isolation, protection and final connection required for the equipment and its load. The work covers workshops, warehouses and industrial premises across Eastleigh, Whiteley, Segensworth and the wider Southampton area.
- Local & Trusted
- Upfront Pricing
- Free Quotes
How this is priced
The price follows the length of the run and the protection it needs along the way, not the machine at the end. Quotes are free, there is no callout fee, and you see the figure before anything is ordered.
- Covers a run of direct cable from a suitable distribution board to a local isolator and final equipment connection.
- Includes mechanical protection such as steel conduit, trunking, or armoured cable along the run.
- Does not include replacing an overloaded distribution board or adding main cables where primary supply capacity is insufficient.
- Does not cover internal electrical alterations or internal control wiring within the machinery itself.
- Fixed wire testing is priced on the number of boards and circuits, not by the hour.
- Emergency lighting is priced per light, and the three hour test is priced separately.
- Repairs are priced item by item off the report, so you choose what to do and when.
- Work outside your trading hours costs a different rate, and I tell you what it is before I set off.
- Quotes are free, rescheduling is free, and there is no callout fee.
What a machine supply has to get right
A machine supply has to match the load stated on the machine, stay protected along its whole run so a knock or a forklift cannot damage it, and switch off somewhere the person using it can actually get to.
Local switch isolation
Every piece of machinery needs a clearly labelled lockable isolator mounted within reach. This allows safe locking off during maintenance or emergency shutdown.
Robust containment in working yards
Workshops next to the docks in Millbrook or trade units in Eastleigh subject cabling to mechanical impact, vibration, and dust. Steel conduit or armoured cable protects conductors.
What is and is not included
This is what a machine supply includes, and where separate work would be needed.
Included
- Calculating current demand, cable size, and protective device ratings
- Installing steel wire armoured cable or conduit containment
- Fitting a local lockable isolator switch adjacent to the machinery
- Terminating into the machine terminal box or control panel
- Testing circuit impedance, earthing continuity, and insulation resistance
- Issuing an electrical installation certificate and updated circuit schedule
Not included
- Servicing or repairing internal mechanical or electronic components of the machine
- Upgrading the main incoming DNO power supply or transformer
- Civil works, floor channelling, or core drilling through reinforced concrete walls
- Providing temporary generator power during installation work
Before I arrive
Send me a photograph of the machine rating plate and of where it is going to sit, and I can size the cable and price the run before I get there.
- 01
Clear access to the distribution board
Ensure the path to the main distribution board is unobstructed so circuit installation and testing can proceed smoothly.
- 02
Position the machinery in its final location
The machine should be in its permanent location so the isolator and final cable run can be measured and installed accurately.
- 03
Provide manufacturer power specifications
Have the electrical rating plate or manufacturer specification sheet available to verify full load current and recommended protection.
What you are left with
A machine on its own protected supply with a lockable isolator beside it, tested and certified the same day the work finishes, with a plain English summary of what was installed.
- A correctly sized circuit
- A circuit correctly rated for the running load and inrush current of your equipment, connected with correct cable size.
- Reachable isolation
- A dedicated lockable rotary isolator mounted adjacent to the machine for emergency power disconnection and safe maintenance.
- Protected containment
- Heavy duty steel conduit, trunking, or armoured cable running securely from the distribution board to resist mechanical damage.
- The certificate and schedule
- An Electrical Installation Certificate recording test results, accompanied by an updated circuit schedule at the distribution board.
Why choose us
Every job is carried out to current standards, fully tested and left tidy. You get the certificate the same day the work finishes, with a plain English summary you can act on, and a reminder when your next test is due. Quotes are free, rescheduling is free, and there is no callout fee. The same electrician quotes the work, does it and signs it off.
Get Free QuoteQuestions I get asked
The questions that come up most often about machine supplies.
Can you wire machinery into an existing distribution board?+
If the existing board has a spare way with adequate physical space and electrical capacity, I can connect straight into it. If the board is full, as seen in many older trade units in Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford, I can install a dedicated extra board or discuss a board upgrade with you. - David McInnes
Do you supply three phase power connections?+
Yes, I install three phase supplies for heavy industrial plant as well as single phase connections for smaller workshops across Southampton and surrounding industrial parks. I match the installation to the required voltage and phase requirements on your machinery specification plate. - David McInnes
Why is a local lockable isolator necessary?+
A lockable isolator within reach of the machine allows operators and engineers to disconnect power safely before undertaking repairs or routine maintenance. It prevents accidental switching back on while someone is working on the mechanical parts.
What information is needed before installing a machine circuit?+
I need to know the kilowatt rating or full load current, starting method, phase requirements, and the exact physical position where the equipment will be installed relative to your distribution board.
Where the rules come from
The official rules behind this work, straight from the source.
- PUWER, work equipment and machineryHSE advice on Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations regarding safe installation, maintenance, and isolation of machinery.
- HSE, electrical safety at workHSE overview of legal requirements under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 for electrical machinery and connections.
Areas we cover
Eastleigh, Whiteley and Segensworth, Chandler's Ford, Hedge End and Botley, Southampton and the docks
Start with the job details
Tell me what you need and you will get a free quote, with no callout fee. Send over a few details about your premises and the work you have in mind.