Where can I buy/is there such a thing as a 16 amp Extension lead UK 3 Pin?

FrankFalcon

Hi all

I am asking this for a family member who is a little baffled...Asked me a question and I am equally as baffled.  So, my relative runs a very small business manufacturing wooden and plastic goods.  In his rented workshop he has a couple of extension leads on a roll, for example this is one of them.

https://cucctv.co.uk/product/daewoo-ext1102/. 

Recently, he received a visit from an insurance broker who told him they would be happy to provide quotes for next years insurance policy as long as the following conditions were met... This (certain conditions etc) is not unusual and is pretty par for the course.  However, one of the conditions were that that current extension leads need to be upgraded.  So, my relative asks me what to upgrade to...I  tell my relative I don't know and that I would ask a friend, who's an electrician.  The electrician tells me "You need 16amp leads, but don't get the leads longer than you need because you will create a virtual magnet which isn't good...It will be detrimental to the lead".  So...I go to google, type in '16 amp' extension lead', but all I can see is leads with the 3 pin circular sockets/plugs but he doesn't want these.  All his power tools have 3 pin UK plugs on them.  What's the lowdown guys n gals?  Are these 16 amp leads available?
Thanks in advance.

coffeehound

Is your relative using the leads over a long distance?  If so, it can lose voltage over longer distance with high-power items like heaters or pressure washers.  In this case, using a thicker cable will reduce the loses.  But, the thicker cable isn't really intended for use with an ordinary mains plug and it doesn't fit into the plug's cable grip properly.

The correct thing to do would be to have the electrician fit a dedicated 16A circuit, and use 16A plugs with the thicker cable.



Also yes when using extension leads on a reel, they should be fully unwound to prevent overheating due to the magnetic field effects

Miser1964

Maybe the electrician was assuming a workshop would be using 110V tools which use yellow 110V/16A 3-pin plugs and run off transformers to step-down the mains voltage for safety? Extension leads are also available for these tools.

coffeehound

It seems the Daewoo lead is only 1.25 sq mm, so you could go up to a 1.5 sq mm lead, which might be what the broker was intending

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/extension-leads-cable-reels/2963593

Edit -- apparently you can get 2.5 sq mm extension leads too

https://www.industrialextensionleads.co.uk/15m-double-socket-heavy-duty-13amp-25mm-cable-extension-lead-11188-p.asp

Olinda99

the problem he is talking about is because the extension leads are coiled rather than straight

coiling a lead makes them act like an electromagnet and they can heat and catch fire. There is nowhere for the heat to dissipate

if you are running any kind of meaningful load then you should always uncoil an extension lead

basically you need straight extension leads

https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news/safety-reminder-about-unwinding-extension-cables/

Rodders53

Your friend need to give you the exact wording and requirements of this Insurance product / condition so that it can be provided here.

Otherwise  it is all guesswork (and poorly informed guesswork at that). 

Olinda99 said:

coiling a lead makes them act like an electromagnet . 

The electromagnetic fields cancel out going down the live and back up the adjacent neutral.

It's purely resistive heating in the cable L-> and <-N that is trapped in the coiled cable drum. 


Family member probably needs to do a fully documented Elfin Safety Risk Assessment on the premises and manufacturing processes - especially if they employ anyone else there. 
That would highlight if stuff such as 110V (55-0-55) tools, fixed bench style tools and safety guards would be recommended.

vacheron

The electromagnet claim is false. In a cable with combined live and neutral conductors, the field will cancel each other out. However a longer lead WILL generate more heat along its length (assuming the same cable copper cross sectional area), and if left coiled up with a high current load can heat up damage or melt the cable.

A longer lead will also result in less voltage reaching the load which wastes electricity and can cause the device to not function as effectively.

There is no such thing as a 16A version of the standard 3 pin plug (BS 1363 Type G) as these are only rated for 13A maximum, as others have said, you would require a 3 pin industrial 16A plug (and associated wall sockets).
 

EnPointe

16 amp leads would be  using  ISO  60309  plugs and sockets   , as the   standard  sized single phase  60309 plug and socket are rated for 16smps, 

 Bs1363  Uk three pin  plugs, sockets and fuses are  rated to 13 amps  at   nominal 230  V ( likely to be  204 volts RMS  as the  nominal value and toelranaces were changed but not the  grid itself) 

EnPointe

Olinda99 said:

the problem he is talking about is because the extension leads are coiled rather than straight

coiling a lead makes them act like an electromagnet and they can heat and catch fire. There is nowhere for the heat to dissipate

if you are running any kind of meaningful load then you should always uncoil an extension lead

basically you need straight extension leads

https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news/safety-reminder-about-unwinding-extension-cables/

you are factually incorrect with stuff about 'inductors' and 'electromagnets' ... uncoiling your extension leads is primarily aobut prevenintg  heat build-up which can soften or even melt the insulation 

Heedtheadvice

As per latter posts plus...

It is  business.

So...

Safety Risk Assessments   to identify and then control risks going towards meeting laws and regulations are required. That should include electrical aspects ( from a qualified electrical engineer to ensure current regulations and relevant sections of building  regs are being  met) plus other hazards ( such as, but not solely ) trip hazards ( trailing cables etc.) Aspects other than electrical are required to meet H&S at work Act. 

Insurance personnel may only pick up on things they notice but a lot more is needed to conform to legal requirements. It seems that this area of business management might be lacking. A safety advisor might need to be consulted to cover the needs!

It could well be that a fixed electrical installation is best used otherwise a Portable Appliance Test could go part way ( only!) to meet H&S needs for the electrical machines and appliances/ extention cables etc.

It all needs a professional approach otherwise the 'business' could well be in breach. Advice from well meaning random posters on forums such as this is not the way forward but can give some guidance or open up falsehoods. The uneducated reader is not in a good place to know what is best or true.

victor2

Heedtheadvice said:

...

It all needs a professional approach otherwise the 'business' could well be in breach. Advice from well meaning random posters on forums such as this is not the way forward but can give some guidance or open up falsehoods. The uneducated reader is not in a good place to know what is best or true.

Going back a good few years, but I remember the insurance for our business telling us that extension leads can only be used on a "temporary" basis. If something was permanently plugged into an extension lead which subsequently overheated and started a fire, we would not be covered.

Similarly, extension leads are often a trip hazard.