I have several appliances in the kitchen plugged into an extension strip - microwave, radio and coffee machine. The circuit doesn't have an RCD at the moment (to be upgraded next year, finances permitting) but I'm wary of not having protection here. Is there such a thing as an extension lead with an RCD already fitted? Any recommendations? If I plug the extension lead into a plug-in RCD pro tem, will all the appliances be protected?
Plug-in RCD on extension lead?
- Thread starter Vicario
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Yes, but why would you want to do anything at the moment?
Yes, but ....
Yes, that would achieve exactly the same as having an RCD built into the extension lead.
Kind Regards, John
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Thanks everyone. I have those brown B&Q ones at the moment - they get slightly warm all the time, is that normal? The image sent by Impudence is a bit of an eye-opener. Seems it's not just me who doesn't have built-in RCDs at the moment (except for the shower circuit, which was fitted separately via Henleys). I wanted to find a conventional strip-type one and there seem to be quite a few. Does anyone know if any of the sheds stock those (not the reel type ones that are really for gardens - got one already). (Apologies to BAN for the question1)
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Note plug in type be it as well as plug or part of plug come in two types the Active or Non-Latching Operation and Passive or Latching. In the main they are Active or Non-Latching which means on a power cut they need resetting clearly a problem with likes of fridge. The idea is if the volt drop means the RCD would not work it fails safe. At the consumer unit volt drop is not a problem so we use Passive or Latching at consumer unit.
Any item with a fuse will get warm it's how a fuse works.
Any item with a fuse will get warm it's how a fuse works.
True, but I don't really see that as an issue with the OP's stated loads - a microwave, a radio and a coffee machine.
Whether it is desirable to run a microwave and coffe machine off an extension lead is perhaps a different matter.
Kind Regards, John
It had occured to me that those two appliances produce heat but would they constitute a hazard? The microwave is never on for more than a few minutes and the coffee machine is off most of the time. I'll get my OWL monitor fired up and see what the increase is in usage with them both on. Doubt if it will be anything like 13 amps.
The engineer who fitted my broadband modem and router a few years ago saw that I was using an extension lead for some of my computer stuff and was happy to plug in the two new bits of technology UNTIL he saw that I had another lead plugged into one of the extension sockets (feeding the computer and printer). He said that he couldn't leave it like that, even though the loads were minuscule. That's what made me a bit wary of these leads. I got an electrician to make the single socket into a double a few days later but in the meantime he simply unplugged the extra lead and 'advised' me not to do that. I had to sign a chit to confirm the advice I'd been given, so they obviously take these things seriously.
The engineer who fitted my broadband modem and router a few years ago saw that I was using an extension lead for some of my computer stuff and was happy to plug in the two new bits of technology UNTIL he saw that I had another lead plugged into one of the extension sockets (feeding the computer and printer). He said that he couldn't leave it like that, even though the loads were minuscule. That's what made me a bit wary of these leads. I got an electrician to make the single socket into a double a few days later but in the meantime he simply unplugged the extra lead and 'advised' me not to do that. I had to sign a chit to confirm the advice I'd been given, so they obviously take these things seriously.
You could be right. You certainly want to stay within the 13A (total) limit, although I accept that neither of those items will be on for long periods, and rarely simultaneously.
Given that we are presumably talking about very low loads, I would personally say that was a bit 'over-cautious' - I can't see any real problem.
Kind Regards, John
Those type of leads are rarely more than a couple of metres long, so extremely unlikely to create loop impedance or volt drop problems.
So as long as they are properly made, and can support 13A through their plug and flex, and 13A out of any of their outlets, without getting into distress (and if they can't they shouldn't be used in the first place) then there's no problem at all, as there's a plug with a 13A fuse at the start of the chain.
I don't think he was being overcautious, I think he was being ignorant and/or superstitious. "He said that he couldn't leave it like that" - why do companies employ people who don't know what they are doing?
So as long as they are properly made, and can support 13A through their plug and flex, and 13A out of any of their outlets, without getting into distress (and if they can't they shouldn't be used in the first place) then there's no problem at all, as there's a plug with a 13A fuse at the start of the chain.
That's because there aren't any real ones, only imaginary.
I don't think he was being overcautious, I think he was being ignorant and/or superstitious. "He said that he couldn't leave it like that" - why do companies employ people who don't know what they are doing?
Indeed. That's why I couldn't see any problems - I don't see imaginary ones!
Kind Regards, John
Not a mathematician then.
Mathematicians don't see imaginary numbers, they merely imagine them!
Kind Regards, John
The installer said that they had been told to avoid extension leads but could plug modems and routers into them if there was no alternative. He also explained that they had been told not to install into daisy-chained leads and to warn customers that these could be dangerous and a trip hazard.
Does the physics change if there is an alternative?
I once tripped on a single lead.
At least he is obedient; saves having to think.
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