Electrical advice please

Ratboy

My Victorian house has a distinct lack of power sockets; , so 4-way sockets are plugged into 4 way sockets, and when unplugging various devices, there is an enormous spark when unplugging....YIKES!

But has a modern fusebox...Seems like the power companies must address the issue?

Jamie_Carter

isofa wrote: »

A bit like I said in my post #2...

Sorry, I answer each post as I come to it, rather than reading the whole thread first.

Jamie_Carter

vaio wrote: »

if you only need one extra socket how about......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOOD-QUALITY-FUSED-3-WAY-UK-PLUG-MAINS-ADAPTOR-HOUSE-PLUG-SOCKET-13-AMP-/350791601853?pt=UK_TravelTickets_Accessories_RL&hash=item51accf0ebd

Whatever you do, don't buy one of these.

The problem with this type of adaptor is that with multiple items plugged into them (especially items with transformers), is that the combined weight can start to pull the adaptor out of the wall. This can cause arcing and overheating, which can and has caused fires.

System

vaio wrote: »

if you only need one extra socket how about......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOOD-QUALITY-FUSED-3-WAY-UK-PLUG-MAINS-ADAPTOR-HOUSE-PLUG-SOCKET-13-AMP-/350791601853?pt=UK_TravelTickets_Accessories_RL&hash=item51accf0ebd

I recently threw all my similar adapters away as I was under the impression they too should be avoided.

huh, I responded before I'd read post 24

System

DECISION MADE! Having spent much time searching and receiving a great deal of advice, a decision has been made. I have ordered an item for pick-up from Argos which is a ten metre 2 gang lead. I will not unpack it, just in case, but I really need to be prepared.

Currently I use my four gang thus:-

laptop/phone/router/printer If he needs an extra socket for modem, I will remove the printer plug and then use the new lead for the printer and maybe a desk lamp.

Sad though it is, this thread seems to have come to a conclusion.

yangptangkipperbang

Fifer wrote: »

Whilst I accept that it's best practice to keep the number of interconnects to a minimum, I'm not convinced that the risk of a 13A plug becoming loose from a 13A socket in a run which is carefully placed and never disturbed is particularly high.

Many extension leads are of very basic manufacture and do not offer good quality connections or cable at the best of times

Some comments from one of the MANY websites that cover this topic:-

"Extension cables are for temporary use: Extension cables were never meant to replace your home's electrical wiring. One of the most common causes of fires from extension cords happens when they are overloaded or when cords have multiple devices plugged into them for extended lengths of time."

"Less is more: Avoid "daisy chains" or plugging two shorter cables or surge protector strips together to make them into a longer one. Instead, use a longer continuous length if you need to stretch the reach. Cables that are doubled up or too long can reduce the operating efficiency of your tools and electrical items and could cause potential motor damage."

"Inspect for damage: Over time, cables and socket points can deteriorate. Damaged cords present a potential fire or shock hazard and should be destroyed and replaced immediately. Replace worn cables with approved and certified cables. "

But - as I said, carry on if you wish. Check that your house insurance is up to date though !

securityguy

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

There IS a BIG "magical difference" ! VERY poor and potentially dangerous advice !!

If you have a "daisy chain" of extensions it is very easy for the plug on one of these extension to work loose from the socket on another extension. If it works loose you will get a poor electrical contact and this will overheat.

And this differs from every other 13A connection in your house because...?

securityguy

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

The reason many appliances have tiddly short leads these days is to ensure the resistance is low enough the circuit protective device operates quickly enough.

0.75mm copper wire has a resistance of about 20 ohms per KILOMETER. You're seriously claiming that an additional ten meters of that in circuit (ie, a 5m extension lead), which would have a resistance of 0.2 ohms, thus causing a voltage drop of 2.6V at 13A, is going to alter the triggering of an over-current device? How? They're current-sensitive devices, anyway. And if by "protective devices" you mean RCDs, then they're measuring the current difference between the two legs, which is unaffected by the length of the circuit.

The reason appliances have tiddly short leads is that copper is expensive, and if you're mass producing high-current appliances, saving two meters of three-core 13A flex is a worthwhile saving. And flexes which are too long tend to be coiled up and cable-tied, which is bad for the insulation and bad for the heat dissipation in the cable. 13A through 0.2 ohms will dissipate 40W, which if the cable is tightly wound is a serious risk (I'm always careful to completely uncoil the extension lead that I use for my lawn mower).

Naf

securityguy wrote: »

0.75mm copper wire has a resistance of about 20 ohms per KILOMETER. You're seriously claiming that an additional ten meters of that in circuit (ie, a 5m extension lead), which would have a resistance of 0.2 ohms, thus causing a voltage drop of 2.6V at 13A, is going to alter the triggering of an over-current device? How? They're current-sensitive devices, anyway. And if by "protective devices" you mean RCDs, then they're measuring the current difference between the two legs, which is unaffected by the length of the circuit.

The reason appliances have tiddly short leads is that copper is expensive, and if you're mass producing high-current appliances, saving two meters of three-core 13A flex is a worthwhile saving. And flexes which are too long tend to be coiled up and cable-tied, which is bad for the insulation and bad for the heat dissipation in the cable. 13A through 0.2 ohms will dissipate 40W, which if the cable is tightly wound is a serious risk (I'm always careful to completely uncoil the extension lead that I use for my lawn mower).

I always knew this in the back of my head; but it never really clicked 'till I ran a 2kW heater from a 10m reel that I'd only partly unwound. It popped the overheat protection button, and took about half an hour before it would reset.

Naf

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Many extension leads are of very basic manufacture and do not offer good quality connections or cable at the best of times

Some comments from one of the MANY websites that cover this topic:-

"Extension cables are for temporary use: Extension cables were never meant to replace your home's electrical wiring. One of the most common causes of fires from extension cords happens when they are overloaded or when cords have multiple devices plugged into them for extended lengths of time."

"Less is more: Avoid "daisy chains" or plugging two shorter cables or surge protector strips together to make them into a longer one. Instead, use a longer continuous length if you need to stretch the reach. Cables that are doubled up or too long can reduce the operating efficiency of your tools and electrical items and could cause potential motor damage."

"Inspect for damage: Over time, cables and socket points can deteriorate. Damaged cords present a potential fire or shock hazard and should be destroyed and replaced immediately. Replace worn cables with approved and certified cables. "

But - as I said, carry on if you wish. Check that your house insurance is up to date though !

So, basically, everything you quote isn't as a result of using extension leads; but from poor management and maintenance of said leads.
Yes, extension leads & socket multipliers create potential for danger through misuse; but so do cars, so do scissors, so do ballpoint pens for goodness sake! The fact that we have a potentially deadly level of electricity wired straight into our homes; and that right beside potentially explosive gas is huge potential for danger. If it bothers you so much then perhaps you should be Amish? Even then you'd need to avoid pitchforks, horses, nails...
Perspective, my friend.