15 amp to 10 amp connection

bgt · Guru

15 amp to 10 amp connection

rgren2 · Guru

One of these.

www.campsmart.net.au/15a-to-10a-adapter-portable-rcd-for-caravans-and-m

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

bgt wrote:
How does everyone address the problem of connecting your 15 amp RV to your 10 amp house?

If you or someone wants to use the Van at your place, especially in Winter, the load from the Stove element, HWS and perhaps a 240V heater etc would more than likely trip the 10Amp CB intermittently, In this case it would be best to have a 15Amp GPO installed.

If not the device suggested by rgren2 is a cheap and suitable option.

Cheers,

Chris.

Long Weekend · Guru

Note that the Campsmart unit is not waterproof. When using it make sure it is out of the weather.

Whereas the Ampfibian unit for $185 is weatherproof - providing the covers are locked down! (The cover on mine won't close over the thicker 15Amp cable. I simply slide it under the van where rain cannot touch it.)

With care the $65 Campsmart unit will operate as well as the $165 Ampfibian.

Murray

wombat50 · Veteran Member

Bunnings have the Ampfibian weather proof one for $118
www.bunnings.com.au/ampfibian-15a-to-10a-rv-plus-caravan-power-adaptor_p7050115

Mamil · Senior Member

Ampfibian also now do a cheaper, non-waterproof model for $70. I use that when I'm at home, and the more expensive waterproof one when I'm out and about.

-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 6th of December 2019 08:23:07 PM

Radar · Guru

bgt wrote:
How does everyone address the problem of connecting your 15 amp RV to your 10 amp house?

We had a correctly circuit breaked 15 amp double power point fitted near the power box. Best move ever, piece of mind and that power point gets a lot of uses.

bgt · Guru

Thanks everyone. I looked in Anaconda and their price was $169.00 for the RV Ampfibian unit. Bunning's has the $69.00 Tradie version. I was just curious as to other options. Besides filing down the 15amp earth!!!!!!!!!

bgt · Guru

Thanks everyone. I looked in Anaconda and their price was $169.00 for the RV Ampfibian unit. Bunning's has the $69.00 Tradie version. I was just curious as to other options. Besides filing down the 15amp earth!!!!!!!!!

Whenarewethere · Guru

You don't want to do that just in case on the very rare situation something is destroyed your insurance will take issue with the situation.

Bush walker · Veteran Member

I just made my own conversion plug all you need is a 10 amp male plug and a 15 amp female plug and wire them together on a short piece of cable. it is legal and quite safe as long as you do not try to interfere with your house cut out fuse. Unless you are using your air conditioning you will be using less than ten amps

Phillipn · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
I just made my own conversion plug all you need is a 10 amp male plug and a 15 amp female plug and wire them together on a short piece of cable. it is legal and quite safe as long as you do not try to interfere with your house cut out fuse. Unless you are using your air conditioning you will be using less than ten amps

Where did you get your information from? That is illegal as is filing the earth pin down. If you overload the 10 amp wiring in your house or a friends you could burn out the wiring.

Spend a few dollars and their will be no problem.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

The wires are actually the SAME size . Just one power circuit to 15 amp .. In any case the breaker will protect

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
I just made my own conversion plug all you need is a 10 amp male plug and a 15 amp female plug and wire them together on a short piece of cable. it is legal and quite safe as long as you do not try to interfere with your house cut out fuse. Unless you are using your air conditioning you will be using less than ten amps

Just to be very clear about this.

It is NOT legal, and nor is it safe.

Cheers,

Peter

Whenarewethere · Guru

Certificate course $180 + GST

Our Plug Top Replacement Course provides the competency for Replacement of 240V single phase electrical plugs and sockets.

Plugs and extension sockets may be replaced by a non-electrically qualified person, provided the person has been trained, assessed and found to be competent to fit plugs and sockets according to the manufacturers instructions.

https://www.testandtagtraining.com.au/plug-top-replacement-course

Bush walker · Veteran Member

Phillipn My information came directly from a qualified electrician If you do overload the ten amp switch the house fuse will automatically cut the power as it is meant to. It is only illegal and dangerous if you try to use a heavier fuse than what the system is designed to do I only use it to power my catamaran fridge and lights if needed which uses less than ten amps and I have never had the cut out switch cut the power

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Bush walker wrote:
Phillipn My information came directly from a qualified electrician If you do overload the ten amp switch the house fuse will automatically cut the power as it is meant to. It is only illegal and dangerous if you try to use a heavier fuse than what the system is designed to do I only use it to power my catamaran fridge and lights if needed which uses less than ten amps and I have never had the cut out switch cut the power

From the point of view of being a retired former Electrician and former Electrical Consulting Engineer with over 40 years experience, what you have just stated is total and utter c*r*a*p.

Making a home made adaptor from a 15A socket to a 10A plug is ILLEGAL ............ FULL STOP.

It doesn't matter how much you try to justify it, it does not meet Australian Standards.

If you don't understand why it is illegal, then go and do an electrical apprenticeship, or go and do an Electrical Engineering Degree and you'll find out why it doesn't comply.

The approved Ampfibian adaptor has a built-in 10A circuit breaker, to prevent you from trying to draw 15A through a household socket that is only rated for 10A MAXIMUM. Most power circuits in homes built over the last 50 years or so, have either 16A or 20A circuit breakers, so if you are drawing 15A from a caravan, your switchboard circuit breaker will NOT trip, and the full load of 15A drawn through the 10A socket will more than likely overheat and cause a fire.

bgt · Guru

FWIW I was joking about filing down the earth pin on a 15amp cable. I was involved some years back in a number of RV related power supply issues. (I also owned a bussines that made 240v components). Looking up the relevant ASA Standard will give you the correct answer. Don't rely on a verbal opinion. Sorry but I have been out of the loop for some year hence my original post.

Phillipn · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
Phillipn My information came directly from a qualified electrician If you do overload the ten amp switch the house fuse will automatically cut the power as it is meant to. It is only illegal and dangerous if you try to use a heavier fuse than what the system is designed to do I only use it to power my catamaran fridge and lights if needed which uses less than ten amps and I have never had the cut out switch cut the power

I think you had better get a new electrician, Did he get his licence out of a packet of corn flakes???????

montie · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
I just made my own conversion plug all you need is a 10 amp male plug and a 15 amp female plug and wire them together on a short piece of cable. it is legal and quite safe as long as you do not try to interfere with your house cut out fuse. Unless you are using your air conditioning you will be using less than ten amps

That is illegal and dangerous!!

Mike Harding · Guru

You people really need to get out more.

Keith P · Senior Member

Mike Harding wrote:
You people really need to get out more.

My thorts exactly hey !!!

Cheers Keith

Bush walker · Veteran Member

It is quite amazing the people than have no comprehension of what a fuse box actually does

If the power usage exceeds what the electrical line fused at the fuse will automatically cut the power in less than 100th of a second

which will prevent any damage or risk of fire

It is illegal to interfere with with the fuse rating by attempting to replace the fuse with a heavier one

It is NOT illegal to use a conversion plug

Many people use power boards and they can plug many electrical appliances into these Should the power used exceed 10amps the fuse in the house fuse box will shut the power off safely preventing and fires or damage to the electrical system

I hope that will clarify matters concerning the use of conversion plugs

montie · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
It is quite amazing the people than have no comprehension of what a fuse box actually does
If the power usage exceeds what the electrical line fused at the fuse will automatically cut the power in less than 100th of a second
which will prevent any damage or risk of fire
It is illegal to interfere with with the fuse rating by attempting to replace the fuse with a heavier one
It is NOT illegal to use a conversion plug
Many people use power boards and they can plug many electrical appliances into these Should the power used exceed 10amps the fuse in the house fuse box will shut the power off safely preventing and fires or damage to the electrical system
I hope that will clarify matters concerning the use of conversion plugs

"Wiring up" you own 10amp to 15amp cable by connecting the cables and wrapping them in insulation is illegal and unsafe.

Either install the correct power socket or use one of the many legal converters.

You can kiss goodbye to any insurance payout in the event of an accident or fire if you are using that contraption...it was banned by the industry years ago.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
It is quite amazing the people than have no comprehension of what a fuse box actually does
If the power usage exceeds what the electrical line fused at the fuse will automatically cut the power in less than 100th of a second
which will prevent any damage or risk of fire
It is illegal to interfere with with the fuse rating by attempting to replace the fuse with a heavier one
It is NOT illegal to use a conversion plug
Many people use power boards and they can plug many electrical appliances into these Should the power used exceed 10amps the fuse in the house fuse box will shut the power off safely preventing and fires or damage to the electrical system
I hope that will clarify matters concerning the use of conversion plugs

The point of it all Bush Walker is that if you choose to use a "converter" (10amp tp 15amp) you need to check that the circuit you are plugged into is protected by a 10Amp fuse/CB. If not (and most power circuits are not 10amp protected) you are running the risk of overloading the "converter".

What you are saying is not correct in that a normal household 10amp power point has protection of a 16amp CB or fuse, thats because the cable is rated at 15amp or higher. The plugtop you are using is rated at 10amps (and the flexible cable probably less) and if you load up by using all your appliances in the van, you will be using more than 10amps so it is possible you will melt the plugtop/socket after prolonged use. WITHOUT (or before) tripping the 16 amp Breaker or fuse!

You may get away with it for a while, but the rules are not set up for purpose of hoping you can manage the load to less than 10amps. They are there to ensure you are protected from possible electrocution or the possibility of fire.

-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 10th of December 2019 07:25:06 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Again. It IS illegal to use a conversion plug. If that were not so you could buy one at Bunnings and you certainly can not. It is also illegal to make one.
Get it tested and tagged.
Any sparkie who did that for you would loose his licence in an instant.
Or ask your local electrical authority.
You clearly don't have a license to loose, but your and others health is at risk and so is any insurance.
Cheers,
Peter

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Bush Walker, can you tell us your qualifications in the electrical industry.

-- Edited by Corndoggy on Thursday 12th of December 2019 12:05:19 AM

Santa · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Again. It IS illegal to use a conversion plug. If that were not so you could buy one at Bunnings and you certainly can not. It is also illegal to make one.
Get it tested and tagged.
Any sparkie who did that for you would loose his licence in an instant.
Or ask your local electrical authority.
You clearly don't have a license to loose, but your and others health is at risk and so is any insurance.
Cheers,
Peter

I guess if you loose (sic) your licence it means you somehow release it back into the wild.

However to lose your license is an entirely different kettle of fish. biggrin

-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 12th of December 2019 09:01:58 AM

-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 12th of December 2019 09:02:35 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Santa, I thought the gossip was about electrical licence not a fishing licence biggrin

Oh well, now I know wink

.....and to keep on topic. I only use and at all times an Amphibian when connected to 10amp sockets. Never ever, ever would I even consider a small length of cable with a 10a one end and a 15a the other. That would be real safe....NOT!

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Santa · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Hi Santa, I thought the gossip was about electrical licence not a fishing licence
Oh well, now I know
.....and to keep on topic. I only use and at all times an Amphibian when connected to 10amp sockets. Never ever, ever would I even consider a small length of cable with a 10a one end and a 15a the other. That would be real safe....NOT!

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Morning Dougwe.

Yep, similar, I use a portable RCD 15 amp to 10 amp converter purchased from Jaycar for $80, never had a problem. smile

https://www.jaycar.com.au/portable-rcd-with-15a-to-10a-mains-plug-conversion/p/MS4044