just thinkinkg,

milo · Guru

just thinkinkg,

elliemike · Guru

Milo

15 amp GPO's are used for safety reasons.

Overloading wiring is dangerous.

Most people know that "at home" plugging e.g Electric heater, Fridge, Electric Blankets, TV, Laptop, Fan, Battery Charger, etc. into a single GPO (10amp) on multiple plugs and adaptors is a "No No" It usualy blows the fuse or safety switch

Because it can overheat wiring and start fires or electrocute people if the insulation is melted off. That is if the Fuse / Safety switch fails or has been bypassed for some reason.

Most campers plug their Van into the CP electric outlet and expect all of the vans appliances to work off one plug . The larger amperage (15 amps) means that all the associated wiring is rated for 15 amps as well. It can handle the expected current draw if everything is switched on at the same time.

Even 15 amp GPO's will have a Fuse/ safety switch that will dropout if the load is too great.

Most workshops will have 15 amp GPO's for running elecric tools, for the same reason.

The Leckies out there will put this in more technical terms I hope.

Regards

Mike

P.S. I have seen three men electrocuted (they survived with burns) because of faulty wiring. My friends 8 year old was killed by bad, overloaded, house wiring, in Africa many years ago. He just touched a wall on the outside of a building while playing out on a damp day.

-- Edited by elliemike on Thursday 1st of September 2011 09:36:08 AM

Happywanderer · The Master

But you can still plug your campervan or motorhome into a normal house if parked up there, can't you??
I've heard of people staying a few days with friends and plugging into their power while there.

Bros · Member

Happywanderer wrote:
But you can still plug your campervan or motorhome into a normal house if parked up there, can't you??
I've heard of people staying a few days with friends and plugging into their power while there.

Only if they have a 15A power point

Bros · Member

The number of fittings and appliances in use are called Maximum Demand. That it what would be the number of devices could reasonably expected to be in use on that circuit at that time and the cable is sized and protective device for that. In your house your power points would usually be protected by a 20A CB so when they make the rules it could be reasonably expected that you will not achieve this demand at once on this circuit. The cable used in power points in your house has a current rating from 20 to 27A without taking any derating into account which can lower it further.

Now we come to a van. It can easily happen you could exceed the size of the supply cable if you used the normal extension lead. You are in a caravan park and the power is free (you paid for it in your site fee so why not use it) so you get out he electric fry pan and have a big cookup outside in the annex. Electric frypans have an element of 2400 w so you are immediately up to your maximum on a 10A cable and you want to use some light's or A/C and you end up with a lead feeling like limp spaghetti.

The people who make the rules have expected this could happen so insist on the use of 15 A inlet fittings and cable so you have a margin of safety. It is not possible to be sure you would only use on appliance at a time so that is why the 15A rule came in.

-- Edited by Bros on Thursday 1st of September 2011 10:28:06 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

I had no idea. I was thinking of getting myself a little electric frypan to use when hooked up to power at C/Ps. That would still be ok as long as I didn't have a lot of other stuff plugged in at the same time, is that right Bros?
So I also wouldn't have the radio plugged in, the toaster and the jug all plugged in at the same time and being used and maybe a light or two on or the TV going. Would turn some off before turning others on?