I have yet to use it and was wondering if anyone could give me advice as to whether this is "safe". Considering i have 3 children in the tent!
Much appreciate your help and advice.
------------- Greg Braund
April 12-Hendra Newquay
May 12- Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
June 12-Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
Aug 12-Summer Valley Truro
Aug 12-Riverside South Molton
Sept 12-Alston Farm Salcombe
Oct 12- Monkey Tree Newquay
It has an rcd so 'safer' than one without of course. One has to assume it has been correctly assembled. Only 13mtres of cable so you will have to hope Ehu post is not too far away. Most go for 25mtre cable. A good idea to have it off the ground if poss. rather than on floor of tent.
Doesnt the post have an RCD? if so then whats the issue. I dont see any problem with that unit in the OP. Obviously its safer to have an RCD but the other one is not dangerous, it might not be ideal but your not going to die using it.
Many Thanks Tentz, have velcro retainers in tent to keep off ground and was considering whether an extension cable would be a good idea for when 13m of cable is just not enough.
This is our 3rd year of camping and as yet have not had the need for EHU, will mostly be for mobile phone/DS charging and maybe a tent light and camping lettle so we don't have to fire up the Gas stove.
------------- Greg Braund
April 12-Hendra Newquay
May 12- Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
June 12-Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
Alston Farm Salcombe
Aug 12-Summer Valley Truro
Aug 12-Riverside South Molton
Sept 12-Alston Farm Salcombe
Oct 12- Monkey Tree Newquay
the issue I have is that the 4 gang block on the end is not fused, I would be much happier the 4 way was fused to 13A.
The post can deliver 16A, the 4 way block is rated at 13A total, in reality, most of the cheaper blocks (as these look to be) have difficulty in sustaining 10A.
With more an more people using heating in tents, I am fearful of these failing due to the load than anything else, the site post should be maintained to a standard where the RCD in the unit is unnecessary, however, a 16A breaker in the post will not protect a 13A plugboard.
Ahh I agree with that, and if that is the case it may actually be illegal if the plug is a 16A supply and the 4 gang block is 13A then its not fit for purpose as its not rated for the supply that it can recieve. The same goes for the one with the inline RCD as well. Its the fuse that is more of an issue not the RCD.
So I look and see loads of camping leads with 16A plugs but with only 13A rated wire and sockets. Some have RCD, some dont, but many dont have fuses. If you plug in an extension at home you use a 13A fused plug to protect the lead, it seems this is a more dangerous issue if you have a heater+ fridge+ others and you could be running at up to 16A on a cable not rated to take it. To all those shocked at the lack of RCD, isnt this a bigger issue and could melt the cable or cause a fire.
I made a comment early in this thread and perhaps we see the reality of it crossing minds.
If I am drinking in a pub and seem pi$$ed yet they continue to feed me booze, I then depart and fall over in the street causing whatever bother to all and sundry, the publican could be in bother because in feeding me he did not exercise his duty of care !
So I turn up at a campsite and they feed me 16amps .......... did the manufacturer of my supply unit think hard about its usage and do a propper risk assessment , and did the campsite owner check to see that I was using safe gear ? Should the campsite owner demand to check every camper is using SAFE equipment and refuse to SUPPLY if they are not ? Both in the leisure industry , both supplying to the public, one responsible and the other not ?
or would the senario be you were drinking 13% wine as that was what you asked for and the publican supplied you 16% wine and didnt explain it was a higher alcohol content. You then get extra drunk and fall over. You know that if had you drank 13% wine you would have been unsteady but still able to walk. The extra 3% did it. Whose fault is in then.
If something has a 16A socket on it, it should be rated to 16A or have a suitable fuse. You cant have 16A one end and 13A the other.
1.5mm cable is ok for 16A (not ideal, but ok) 2.5 is better, but theres one good reason why they don't use it, it wont fit into one of those plugboards.
If the board was fused, the cable is ok for 16, the fuse in the unit then protects the plugboard from overload.
Its the manufacturers of these units who are responsible IMO, they are supplying equipment that is unfit for the purpose it is designed for ie it is easily possible to overload the board under normal use.
personally I wouldn't like to plug a fan heater into those boards pictured, like I said, I have seen too may boards fail with a 10A constant load. The fused units tend to be of a better quality, so can also withstand the load they are supposed to (eg duraplug)
has been very interesting reading the comments on my original post,must say am rather surprised that some seem to want to defend this product.in my original post i did not really past comment on the safety of the ehu(apart from the tongue in cheek comment about dieing)my point was the price of it.
thanks to saxo for the very interesting info.
As to the lack of a 13amp fuse being a bigger problem than no rcd,well from personal experience as a fire fighter i can tell you just how much abuse a 13amp fuse will take without blowing,so for me it's rcd and mcb all the way.