Thread: 15A power outlet

The sparkie shouldn't have done that, 1mm flex isn't big enough for that and will just get warm and possibly even be a fire hazard for you. You want a minimum of 1.5 but if it was me (and I am a sparkie) I'd get myself a lead with 2.5mm flex and you'll not have any concerns at all.
cheers

Sounds like Dodgy Bros to me.

You'll get a 50:50 consensus on this. For me 15 amp is 15 amp and I strongly believe you shouldn't cut corners when it comes to electrical requirements.

Thanks for your advice guys. To think that I tipped him for the extra effort he went to LOL

He gave me a double outlet (15A) so I can replace the single outlet that he installed. I plan to run a 15" thicknesser (14A) + 2HP dusty (7.7A) off it. That should be all right I assuming the circuit breaker is rated for something like 25A or more?

1 mm² in a flexible cord is only capable of carrying 10 amps. I would be replacing the lead on the thicknesser with 2.5mm² cable. I'll give the sparky the benfit of the doubt and assume the lead was a temporary measure to get you going till he comes back with some bigger cable

I'm guessing he's put a 20amp breaker on the circuit but perhaps not, you might want to check though. If not... I can feel a Doh! coming.

I'd buy a suitably long 15 amp extension cord, cut the socket end off and wire it in as the new, permanent lead for the thicknesser. (Or just buy the lead and transfer the 15 amp plug over from the dodgy cord).

Originally Posted by Cin

He gave me a double outlet (15A) so I can replace the single outlet that he installed. I plan to run a 15" thicknesser (14A) + 2HP dusty (7.7A) off it. That should be all right I assuming the circuit breaker is rated for something like 25A or more?

Don't just assume the CB is rated for 25 A - go take a look and see what it is.

Changing a single 15A to double 15A is asking for trouble. It's not just the CB that needs to cope with the current the wiring has to as well. Unless the wiring in the wall is rated for 30+ A then its a problem waiting to happen.

My understanding is that 15A circuits are supposed to be wired for 1 device that should be connected to their own individual CB?

All I could see on the CB was "6kA" and "30mA". The 30mA is written near the 'test' button. The sparky wrote on the invoice that it is a "25A RCBO". It looks identical to what is shown on: RCBO 1P 6KA 30MA 25A MOD6-C | Residual current devices | Rexel Electrical Supplies

The cable he used was "4.0mm 2C+E" according to the invoice. What does that mean in terms of max. current?

Thanks for all the advice given

G'day again, All sounds pretty good to me. The cable he's used is good for about 32amps and that also allows for a bit of a derating if he's ran it through insulation or something like that so no probs there. The breaker is a 25amp Residual current device (RCD) or as people know them a "Safety switch".
The 30mA refers to the amount of leakage current required to trip the safety switch side of it. So all in all... no worries at all.
If you're going to be making a heavier extension lead, why don't you just fit a 2.5mm lead that is long enough for what you need directly to the thicknesser?
Save you some mucking about.
Cheers

Originally Posted by maxdangerous

G'day again, All sounds pretty good to me. The cable he's used is good for about 32amps and that also allows for a bit of a derating if he's ran it through insulation or something like that so no probs there. The breaker is a 25amp Residual current device (RCD) or as people know them a "Safety switch".

Cable is OK, but I'm not sure 2 x 15 A outlets on a 25A breaker is up to spec.

I'm not sure how often you intend to run 2 15amp loads simultaneously... if you do then you will probably trip the breaker... if you're anything like me (only one pair of hands) then you'll probably use one machine at a time in conjuction with the dusty.
Having said this, the breaker that you have will do what you need safely and is totally acceptable, the breakers main task is to protect the cable that it is supplying and this it will do.
If you're concerned about it "being up to spec" I suggest you ring the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector who has the final say about electrical installations and regulations.
Regards

The number of 15 amp socket-outlets on a circuit is not really an issue unless you are actually doing the maximum demand calculations for the circuit/phase and are working out load groups. Protection of the circuit is done by the circuit breaker that is correctly sized for the cable, so the number of socket-outlets is not relevant.

Stuff on 15 amp points is more industrial and is more likely to have a higher startup draw, so having them on individual circuits is less likely to lead to nuisance tripping when your 15 amp air compressor and 15 amp table saw start at the same time.

Table C5 - Number of points connected to circuits says:

C5.1 Number of Circuits
Each item of equipment that has a current rating in excess of 20 A per
phase should be connected to a separate and distinct circuit.
Where more than one item of equipment is to be connected to a circuit,
consideration needs to be given to—
(a) the number, distribution and type of equipment (lighting, socket-outlets
or appliances, etc.), i.e. points, that are to be supplied in combination;
and
(b) the operating characteristics of the different items of equipment,
including seasonal or daily variations; and
(c) the circuit current under expected operating conditions and the
coordination with cable and protective device ratings to minimize the
risk of an overload fault; and
(d) the effects of an overload fault on the circuit, including loss of supply
to equipment that performs a special function, e.g. security,
emergency, medical or critical information and telecommunications
purposes.

See also Table C8 in AS/NZS3000 for more detail on load calculations.

Gotta love those rule books... not hehe
Lets hope we don't have an old place with a 35 amp consumers main...
sshhh

Thanks for the advice guys, especially maxdangerous

The double outlet is really there to have either the thicknesser/bandsaw/jointer + dusty, which is why the thicknesser isn't hardwired. The dusty draws 7.7A so hopefully it won't trip the circuit if its connected with the thicknesser. I couldn't find any 2.5mm flex 15A extension leads at bunnies. Do they sell these only at electrical wholesale shops?