i have been using my domestic 10amp outside power socket to charge the in house caravan battery and cool the fridge before going on trips. usually leave it on for a day and a night before leaving. (same socket operates my house water pump and dam pump)
Thinking that i may let friends and fellow g.n's use an area for short stays but was wondering at what point i would have to upgrade to a 15amp power socket and exactly what is involved.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.


Johnw

It is quite likely that just changing a 10 amp GPO (that's techo talk for a power point) to a 15 amp GPO without any other wiring mods would breach SAA wiring rules as 15 outlets usually require a separate circuit to be installed and this is a job for a licensed sparky.

You could "cheat" by making up a small extension cord with a 10 amp plug and a 15 amp socket. If you're not completely au fait with wiring electrical stuff get someone to do this for you. Whilst this is not strictly legal, provided the "adaptor cord" is correctly wired (this is absolutely important) it is unlikely to cause any problems provided the van on the other end doesn't have a whole bunch of high current drawing devices eg air conditioner or heater, jug, toaster, etc.). This would also include your house and dam pumps.

One of the reasons (but not the only one) for using 15 amp cords in caravan parks is that many 10 amp extension cords are of lighter physical construction and only suitable for indoor use.

(disclaimer: I have a technical background but I'm not a licensed electrical contractor)

I agree fully with what Jimricho has said, I wouldnt go changing the existing plug to a 15 amp without the necesary adjustments to the wiring and fuse arrangement, somebody will pull in and fire up the whole shebang and then blame you for not having the correct wiring could be a court case in the waiting

Thanks Jim and Dave, guess i really knew this but was hoping for an easy way out. will call a sparkie and see what options i have. as a f.s.f.retiree until i turn 65 it's a financial decision that determines if i do it or not. Thanks again for your help. Johnw

Simply changing your 10 amp GPO to a 15 amp won't make any difference whatsoever to your mains supply. Household power supplies are fused to 15 amp and lights to 10 amp (check your fuse box). It is the CURRENT DRAIN which has effects. For example if you plugged the 15 amp lead from an arc welder into the socket, THEN you would have problems (which is why houses don't normally have 15 amp GPO's.) Either way, you will be doing something illegal. Changing the GPO yourself or making up a 10A to 15A extension connector. Normally the only thing in a van which will even go close to putting you over 10A is the electric hot plate. Add up the current drain of everything in the van (in the unlikely event that everything was turned on at the same time) and make a decision. Personally, I'd get an electrician in to install a 15A GPO. For a couple of hundred bucks you would be able to sleep guilt-free.

Interesting discussion....
 if you use an ordinary welder on a 10 amp GPO it dosen't take much to drop the circuit breaker. I have an outside GPO on this new house and it is rated at 15 amps with the large earth pin and was put there for an A/C that never was.... when I checked the fuse board it has no seperate circuit breaker for it. But the power circuits have 20 amp breakers in them. That means I can have 2 appliances plugged in to 2 GPO's drawing 10 amps each.... Yeah it takes little to draw 20 amps, a heater 10amp, clothes dryer 10 amp, toaster 7amp and electric jug 7amp theoretically should overload a 10 amp circuit by a factor of 3, still the 20 amp breaker stays in place....
Not quite sure how it works.....

if you were to imediately drop the full load of above 20 amps on then the fuse should blow, if it doesnt I suggest you replace it the trouble with a constant load slowly apllied above the specified capacity of the wiring and fuse will end up with the wire and or circuit overheating and causing a fire a welder running under 100 amp hours will not blow a 10 amp fuse but if you run it higher then it will, a simple matter of the full charge coming on in a rush as in the first arc of the electrode I have ran small portable welders for years (still do) off 10 amp household plugs, building carports and verandahs as well as repairs to caravans and camper trailers, and the like it is fine for short bursts I have a large welder in the shed and it will blow the 10 amp fuse at the first sign of an arc, it must be run off 15 amp yet my mig (rated the same amperage) will not if you have a 10 amp plug out for powering up visitors vans then along will come someone with a large freezer on a hot day with the air con on high and the hair dryer just asking for trouble, I know because it has happened to me, luckily it tripped the circuit but the power draw was prolonged and slow and it overheated the protecting sheath on the wiring to the box, $900 electrician fee to replace what was a freindly gesture dont do it!!

Just had a designated 15amp power point, wiring and safety switch installed for $180. Going to save me a lot of worry. Thanks for the comments and advice. Johnw

safest way I think.

We had a 15 amp plug put in to service our outdoor spa. It is seperately wired through from the fuse box with no other plugs off it. We also use this for our caravan when we have visitors using the van. It is not that expensive to have put in, but means you don't have to worry.