Just picked up my van and it has a 15 amp plug on the lead, are most like this, do caravan parks have 15amp plugs and does this mean I can't plug in at home.
Thanks
Radar said
07:48 PM Dec 8, 2018
not so grey nomads wrote:
Just picked up my van and it has a 15 amp plug on the lead, are most like this, do caravan parks have 15amp plugs and does this mean I can't plug in at home.
Thanks
NSGN HI
Yes caravan parks only use 15 amp plugs and leads to connect to power.
Yes you can not use this 15 amp plug at home unless you have a 15 amp power fitted to your home.
The best plan and without a doubt the best plan is to call in a licensed electricial and have a heavy duty power point fitted somehere convenient. I have my 15 amp power near the powerbox which is handy to the caravan. All good.
No I am not expert on these matters but the simlpe small cost was worth it. Ralph.
Dougwe said
08:02 PM Dec 8, 2018
Hi Paul, another way of doing it at home and maybe friends etc if staying with them is use a 'Amphibian'.
It is a legal converter basically. You connect the Amphibian to you 10a house socket then your 15a CV lead in that. What it does is, converts 10a to 15a legally.
You can get them at most good CV accessary places or even Evil Bay.
Whenarewethere said
08:10 PM Dec 8, 2018
You may be able to have it put on the same circuit as other 10 amp outlets if you don't have a lot on there. I have a 15 amp UPS on a circuit with 10 amp but they are all pretty low use.
It would be better to get another circuit put in for the 15 amps. Get wired for future electric car while at it. Last year I got 3 phase run to the garage for that purpose with other electrical work & it did not cost much extra for the 3 phase.
not so grey nomads said
08:11 PM Dec 8, 2018
Thanks Guys
TheHeaths said
08:15 PM Dec 8, 2018
You have the answers Paul, including using an approved 15 Amp to 10 Amp connection like the Amphibian.
Don't be swayed from that if and when you get responses suggesting using a home made cheat lead.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 8th of December 2018 08:16:31 PM
Long Weekend said
09:05 PM Dec 8, 2018
Actually, while an Amphibian has a wide earth pin socket to take the end of the 15 Amp lead it doesn't convert 10 Amps into 15 Amps. It has a circuit breaker that trips whenever the current draw exceeds the 10 Amps coming from the house - thus preventing the 10 Amp house circuits from burning out.
Running the power through an Amphibian means that most things will run - such as the aircon on our van. However, turning on the electric jug at the same time trips the circuit breaker and I have to go outside to reset it then turn one or the other off. Without the aircon the lights, TV, fridge all run without problems.
Changing the 15 Amp plug for a 10 Amp one on the lead then plugging it into a house socket means that you do not have the safety cut out. (It also means that is illegal!)
I think that buying an Amphibian adaptor will probably be cheaper than having a dedicated 15 Amp socket installed in the house, particularly when it may only be used occasionally. Besides, you can take the Amphibian with you and use it when you stop at family and friends places.
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 9th of December 2018 10:00:52 AM
Whenarewethere said
09:47 PM Dec 8, 2018
It is just a legal way of plugging a 15 amp plug into a 10 amp socket, & as mentioned above it has a 10 amp circuit breaker so it is not overload the legal 10 amp socket. Or some idiot putting a 10 amp extension lead inbetween.
Your power circuit in the house may be able to have a 10 amp socket exchanged to a 15 amp socket, but that's for the electrician to give the ok.
I haven't got the latest Jaycar catalog - but the price has dropped from $89.95 in the 2017 one.
Also in that catalog is a double socket adaptor - part number MS-4047 for $129.
Then there is the waterproof adaptor part number MS-4048 for $119, which is the single socket version.
I seem to recall that the waterproof box was once offered separately but cannot find it in the catalog.
That might help somebody decide which one to buy - Jaycar's or Amphibian.
Murray
oldtrack123 said
05:11 PM Dec 9, 2018
LLD wrote:
I got one of these from Jaycar.
That unit is only approved when it is fully weather protected and definitely does not meet the approval standards for use with caravans
In fact the Standards clearly state the Standard ,that they are approved to is not approved for caravan use
EJP said
07:40 PM Dec 9, 2018
As stated above , the ideal solution is to have a 15 amp powerpoint installed in proximity to where you park the van at home. Failing that an 'Amphibian' is a good alternative. I bought an Amphibian plug conversion and have found it ideal when no 15 amp powerpiont is available, ie, visiting friends etc. Plug the 10 amp plug on the Amphibian into a 10 amp powerpoint and the 15 amp caravan lead into the 15 amp Amphibian socket. The 10 amp circuit is protected by a circuit breaker in the Amphibian and it is fully waterproof, meaning it can be used outside. Running the airconditioning/heating and other eletrical appliances together may overload the 10 amp circuit causing the Amphibian circuit breaker to trip, so power rationing may be necessary. It is a safer solution than using an illegal 10/15 amp powerlead. They are available from caravan assecories stores, Bunnings etc. I think mine was $89 from Bunnings.
EJP
PeterD said
11:58 PM Dec 9, 2018
This is the best one to get - Ampfibian 15A to 10A RV-PLUS Caravan Power Adaptor - It is the water resistant model and it can be used in exposed locations like in showgrounds where they only provide 10 A outlets. There is also a $72 model but that can not be used in exposed situations.
Just picked up my van and it has a 15 amp plug on the lead, are most like this, do caravan parks have 15amp plugs and does this mean I can't plug in at home.
Thanks
NSGN HI
Yes caravan parks only use 15 amp plugs and leads to connect to power.
Yes you can not use this 15 amp plug at home unless you have a 15 amp power fitted to your home.
The best plan and without a doubt the best plan is to call in a licensed electricial and have a heavy duty power point fitted somehere convenient. I have my 15 amp power near the powerbox which is handy to the caravan. All good.
No I am not expert on these matters but the simlpe small cost was worth it. Ralph.
Hi Paul, another way of doing it at home and maybe friends etc if staying with them is use a 'Amphibian'.
It is a legal converter basically. You connect the Amphibian to you 10a house socket then your 15a CV lead in that. What it does is, converts 10a to 15a legally.
You can get them at most good CV accessary places or even Evil Bay.
You may be able to have it put on the same circuit as other 10 amp outlets if you don't have a lot on there. I have a 15 amp UPS on a circuit with 10 amp but they are all pretty low use.
It would be better to get another circuit put in for the 15 amps. Get wired for future electric car while at it. Last year I got 3 phase run to the garage for that purpose with other electrical work & it did not cost much extra for the 3 phase.
You have the answers Paul, including using an approved 15 Amp to 10 Amp connection like the Amphibian.
Don't be swayed from that if and when you get responses suggesting using a home made cheat lead.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 8th of December 2018 08:16:31 PM
Actually, while an Amphibian has a wide earth pin socket to take the end of the 15 Amp lead it doesn't convert 10 Amps into 15 Amps. It has a circuit breaker that trips whenever the current draw exceeds the 10 Amps coming from the house - thus preventing the 10 Amp house circuits from burning out.
Running the power through an Amphibian means that most things will run - such as the aircon on our van. However, turning on the electric jug at the same time trips the circuit breaker and I have to go outside to reset it then turn one or the other off. Without the aircon the lights, TV, fridge all run without problems.
Changing the 15 Amp plug for a 10 Amp one on the lead then plugging it into a house socket means that you do not have the safety cut out. (It also means that is illegal!)
I think that buying an Amphibian adaptor will probably be cheaper than having a dedicated 15 Amp socket installed in the house, particularly when it may only be used occasionally. Besides, you can take the Amphibian with you and use it when you stop at family and friends places.
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 9th of December 2018 10:00:52 AM
It is just a legal way of plugging a 15 amp plug into a 10 amp socket, & as mentioned above it has a 10 amp circuit breaker so it is not overload the legal 10 amp socket. Or some idiot putting a 10 amp extension lead inbetween.
Your power circuit in the house may be able to have a 10 amp socket exchanged to a 15 amp socket, but that's for the electrician to give the ok.
I got one of these from Jaycar.
I haven't got the latest Jaycar catalog - but the price has dropped from $89.95 in the 2017 one.
Also in that catalog is a double socket adaptor - part number MS-4047 for $129.
Then there is the waterproof adaptor part number MS-4048 for $119, which is the single socket version.
I seem to recall that the waterproof box was once offered separately but cannot find it in the catalog.
That might help somebody decide which one to buy - Jaycar's or Amphibian.
Murray
That unit is only approved when it is fully weather protected and definitely does not meet the approval standards for use with caravans
In fact the Standards clearly state the Standard ,that they are approved to is not approved for caravan use
EJP
This is the best one to get - Ampfibian 15A to 10A RV-PLUS Caravan Power Adaptor - It is the water resistant model and it can be used in exposed locations like in showgrounds where they only provide 10 A outlets. There is also a $72 model but that can not be used in exposed situations.