15 AMP Lead

It is the requirement of a powered site that it has a 15 amp socket. The Aust Standards require it. The standard is adopted into law in each state and territory by the relevant legislation.

There are exceptions but you'd need someone who knows the legislation to give you advice on it.

In the mean time a 15 amp lead doesn't cost much and you can plug a 10 amp socket directly into it.

Don't cut the earth pin off under any circumstances. Someone could end up getting electrocuted.

Hi VioletMay

Your husband was right (but aren't they always).

As you didn't need a powered site - just don't use the power and no need for a lead.

Robin Miller

I'm no sparky but at home we have a number of 15 amp outlets which are used for welders, pressure cleaners etc. Also our standby genset has only 15amp outlets

A normal 10amp male plug goes into a 15 amp female socket, we do it regularly.

The other way round is not possible, the idea is to make sure that if you're drawing a heavy current you have the lead that is appropriate.

If you're only plugging in a battery charger, light or anything else with a normal 10amp plug you have no problem

Qualified electritians may wish to add/correct

Chris

The ten amp lead is the smaller of the two and will fit a fifteen amp socket. They provide 15amp fuse for trailers that use a lot of power. Your on board fuses will provide protection.

May they want to rent u a lead?

Owen

Beware of the "Power Plug Police", they do spot checks and if you don't have a 15 amp plugged in they will disconnect the power immediately and tell you to get the right plug.

Park owners are probably under orders to ensure rule not broken and they will probably bring it to your attention .
Happened at Pottsville year before last and the van owner was not impressed with hot beer etc after the "PPP" pulled the plug on him.

Pedro

Gday,
15 amp is very common, especially where in the majority of cases more than one appliance is going to be run off that lead. Eg caravans.
Your "standard" 10 amp lead will plug into their 15 amp socket and to most appliances but not a caracan socket if its set up properly.
At a guess they are probably sick of people using 10 amp leads with a 15 amp females plugged into their socket and tripping curcuit breakers and fuses all hours of the night so they just warn everyone before they arrive. (good call probably)
Do your self a favour and buy a 15 amp lead, they really arent expensive.
If you only want to carry one lead, make it a 15 amp. And Im not suggesting for a minute to cut off the 15 amp male and and replace it with a 10 amp male so you can also use it from a 10 amp outlet when you are absolutely sure your not going to be drawing more than 10 amps, like running a light or something. And before I get crusified buy the people who do NOTHING not by the book, I say again Im not saying do this!

Cheers

If you don't need the powered site for anything else, just plug the phone charger into the outlet. They'd be hard pressed to be pedantic about a 15 amp lead not being used in case someone had done the wrong thing and connected it to a caravan. Not uncommon to see phones on charge on power outlets at CPs. Just don't leave the area in case someone takes a fancy to your phone.

Caravan parks supply 15A outlets because most peopl in an appliance filled rig will pull more power than 10A Eg. aircon, lights, battery charger, fridge,popcorn maker? etc. then turn the microwave on high. POP' goes the breaker on the pole.
When supplying 15A power to caravan sites it is a requirement to inform people that the outlets are 15A for duty of care purposes,which would clearly be stated in their insurance contract. The reason is for example; when a 10A circuit is supplied, 10A rated power leads are the minimum as it must be capable of carrying 10A worth of power without any Undesired affects. So the same applies with 15A outlets so to ensure that if anything pulls to much power......the 15A breaker at the pole will trip , turning off the power before anything else can happen.

Bunnings sell 15A caravan leads, they have moulded plugs on both ends and a water splash lip to reduce the likelyhood of water shorting the connection on the camper. Note: All campers now produced should come with 15A inlet and wiring to an RCD protected breaker before anything else on the camper or van is supplied with power.

Mmmmmmm

The power outlet at a caravan park is rated at 15 amps. It is protected from excessive current draw by a 15 amp circuit breaker or similar device. The breaker should shut off power if the current exceeds 15 amps. Thereby protecting the 15 amp lead from a fire or meltdown if too many appliances or a short develops.

Plugging in an extension lead with a lesser current rating (i.e. the 10 amp extension lead) into the 15 amp outlet means you can draw MORE than 10 amps from the lead. The circuit breaker will not trip until it reaches 15 amps. Drawing in excess of 10 amps for a resonable period will usually result in a fire as a minimum.

Using a 3 pin plug with the earth cut off is pure suicide.

Hope this helps in your evaluation.
PeteS

what about some parks wanting the extension leads tagged and tested now.

It is a silly rule and only provides protection for a 15 amp supply circuit in a Caravan!

Imagine this scenario, which is not beyond the possibility from the adverage camper.

You do as required and plug in a 15 amp lead to the power box and run the lead to your Camper Trailer, or Tent.
Now, inside you need to run more than one appliance at a time, so you connect an el cheapo power distribution board to the lead. The power distribution board or course has a combined (total) rating of 10 amps maximum, but how is this controlled?.........IT'S NOT.

Because you can now draw a maximum of 15 amps before the circuit breaker in the power box will trip, but the rating of the distribution board and its short lead is 10 amps, you may get a result of overheating and "meltdown", potentially causing a fire before the ELCB protection trips out.

This is not an issue for the majority of devices one is likely to plug in, but consider the "must have" Camper who runs an electric kettle, breadmaker and god knows what else, at the same time. (They may even have an electric blanket on the same circuit)

If people must use a power distribution board, ensure it has its own overload protection. (i.e. it will trip out if you exceed the maximum amp rating of 10 amps, regardless of what and how many devices you have connected)

Such boards will have an overload reset button on them.