Electrians question

[normspanners]

How legal are these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/240v-230v...371187?hash=item51c1c6a1b3:g:SnoAAOSwRLZT6Rd1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/240v-Powe...256367?hash=item235d3edd6f:g:Ta8AAOSwnGJWTI-a

also 32A 3way16A y splitters

 

[Chris Stevens]

Why not email the seller and ask? If he has been making up cables since 79, I guess he would probably know.

 

[normspanners]

Thanks but I just meant generally because you see loads of them about, I have just put in a 32A outlet in my drive on a dedicated 32c rcbo wired with 6mm TnE and it makes me cringe with those that is potentially 32A on a 1.5mm !!
I will prob put a second 16A socket off the bottom of the box with its own mcb inside .
PS I would 'nt wire a 16A extension in 1.5 mm flex anyway, all mine are wired 2.5 arctic.

 

[Robotstar5]

He thinks it's covered by this statement:

Our 32-16Ax2 adapters are designed for users who are aware of the cumulative power-draw of their connected devices, and understand that the cable used provides for <16A per branch, from the 32A source (1.5mm² CSA cables used).

 

[normspanners]

He thinks it's covered by this statement:

Thanks for that I did see that but as said before there are loads out there that dont have a warning as per the solid Y splitters .

 

[piman]

Hello Norm,

I would agree and feel that as they are very short the cost difference to the maker between 1.5 and 2.5 would be pennies. I'm sure many potential buyers would be more likely to buy if they were 2.5 cable? I certainly would use them if I had a requirement but would watch that the cable grip in the 32 amp plug is actually gripping two cables adequately?

Alec

 

[Robotstar5]

....but would watch that the cable grip in the 32 amp plug is actually gripping two cables adequately?

The serrated flat bar type would probably be the best type of grip to use?

 

[Cyberprog]

Legal? Erm, probably.
A good idea? No. I used to chop em up whenever I saw them.

They're no longer IP rated as the cable entry is designed for a single cable, they can be overloaded and potentially cause a fire or serious damage to equipment.

I wish people just wouldn't make them. Sigh!

 

[normspanners]

Thanks, I thought they where a bit close to the legal limit because anybody with not a lot of knowledge could happily plug in a long 1.5mm 16A extension especially in a working situation and be pulling a lot of amps through it. After seeing my relative wire up a new electric cooker on the .75 flex that the gas cooker had been hard wired to, with a 32A mcb at the CU, now that was a mess, luckily nobody was hurt but the cable was burnt through from one end to the other.

 

[sparkysy]

I don't get these at all! I can understand having a y splitter but not one that has 2 16a from a 32a supply, this just seems silly to me as the overload protection is still 32a for a 16a rated socket flex and equipment. Fair enough if the y is from a single 32a to two 32a outlets or from a single 16a to two 16a outlets as they still have the correct current rating! Is it just me?

 

[normspanners]

That is my thinking but there are that many for sale, apparently very common for the boating fraternity coz the shore power poles have 32A outlets and 16;s the 16A get used up first, now that is a lethal mix potentially steel boats in water all moving a chaffing together on a 1.5 flex with 32amps at the source!

 

[sparkysy]

Yes I can imagine they would get used in all sorts of places as well! I wouldn't want to be potentially pulling 32a down 1.5mm flex let alone for any great distance. I suppose it would keep the frost off the cable

 

[Cyberprog]

Really they should go to a sub-distro and then to 16's.