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Subject Topic: electric sockets? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personferretlady
09/3/2017 at 7:51pm
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Hi all, would love to have a row of electric sockets on the sill at the base of the front windows. At the moment we use an extension cable plugged in on the plinth under the front seats.
is this doable? Has anyone got any pics if they've done this please?

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Persontango55
09/3/2017 at 8:03pm
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If you installed a row of electrical sockets they would have to be spurred off from one socket which it is advised to only spur off once from an existing supply. The best way is just to plug in a 4 socket extension the same as shown in the link.


Link


woodman2
10/3/2017 at 8:13am
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 09/3/2017
If you installed a row of electrical sockets they would have to be spurred off from one socket which it is advised to only spur off once from an existing supply. The best way is just to plug in a 4 socket extension the same as shown in the link.


Link


I too have read the same advise about only spur off once from an existing supply and so you advise not to create a row of four sockets as the OP requested.
What I don't understand is what is the difference between that, and a four socket extension. Surely they amount to the same thing.


PersonWindrush owner
10/3/2017 at 9:59am
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You could always replace the single socket with a double socket and add another double socket in as a spur, or you could tap into the ring adding the sockets into the ring, to do this each socket would need 2 sets of cable to create the ring, also you should use the correct size stranded cable NOT household installation cable which is single core.

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Personsaxo1
10/3/2017 at 11:13am
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The one socket extension is only relevant when you are extending domestic wiring on a ring final circuit.
Most caravans have radial circuits with an MCB controlling it and the total load that it can carry.
Most modern caravans have 10A or 16A MCB's protecting the power circuits with 6A for the lighting.
There is no difference between installing extra sockets and using a 4 way extension.
saxo1


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Personferretlady
10/3/2017 at 5:22pm
 Location: Mid Wales
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Thanks for the replies!

A little bit confused, but think i have got the gist of it. Its just annoying having the extension cable, with the wire going up the side of the centre chest and into the middle, so we can both use it!

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Personchrisn7
10/3/2017 at 9:49pm
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Not familiar with your van, but in using the sill/shelf below the window, this panel will be over the gas bottle locker. Therefore you cannot inset the sockets or drill it to hide the cable - the sockets will have to be surface mounted, and the cable may be exposed unless there is an alternative way of hiding it.


Personferretlady
11/3/2017 at 11:24pm
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Chrisn7, yeah thats what i was thinking! Never mind, will have to stick with an extension cable! Lol

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PersonWindrush owner
12/3/2017 at 12:45am
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ferretlady, as you say you wanted the extra sockets so you can both use them, i'm presuming you want to charge usb devices, if that's the case then why not buy a mutli usb charger.

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Personchrisn7
12/3/2017 at 1:44am
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You could put a pair of mains sockets at one or both ends of the window shelf in a surface mounted pattress, as the cable will be easier to hide there.

If USB sockets are required, one option is to use a simple small adapter that fits straight into the standard 12v accessory socket found in most vans. These come in single and double USB sockets.


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Personnavver
17/3/2017 at 7:21pm
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Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 10/3/2017
The one socket extension is only relevant when you are extending domestic wiring on a ring final circuit.
Most caravans have radial circuits with an MCB controlling it and the total load that it can carry.
Most modern caravans have 10A or 16A MCB's protecting the power circuits with 6A for the lighting.
There is no difference between installing extra sockets and using a 4 way extension.
saxo1



This is the correct answer.it is a caravan not a house so a completely different wiring system.
In a house you have a 32A MCB protecting a ring circuit of 20A cable. That means if you spur off with 20A cable it is protected by a 30A MCB. That's why the number of sockets allowed on a spur in a house is restricted.

In a caravan the MCB protecting the sockets is normally 10A and the supply to the van is protected by a 16A MCB at most. Some 10A or 6A. That means you can put as many sockets as you like on a spur as long as you don't plug in and use more load than the 10A MCB will support.



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