Extention Cords

Lucas_arts_182 · Post by **Lucas_arts_182** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:47 pm

i am trying out to get an apprentaship as an electrician , how ever its spelt , my strong point is maths

but to the subject at hand , ive always been told to never use more than 30 meters of extension cords for saftey reasons and to use R.C.D.'s at every 10-15 meters if possible , can any one confirm/denie this

Post by **Tyranus** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:03 pm

it's not really a confirmation as such, but as an SOP at Stirling SES, there is a portable RCD plugged directly into your power source (generator, house power, etc.) Then extension leads into that, if further points are required at the end of the lead then another portable RCD can be used.

Post by **Toottoot** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:04 pm

one rcd will cover up to 400 million trillion kilometres of cable so only need one at the beginning. most new installations should have them installed though.

30 m is a good rule for extension leads, cant remember what the standard says off hand. for longer distances you need bigger cable to allow for voltage drop caused by resistance of the cable which in turn leads to heating of the cable.

munchkin1981 · Post by **munchkin1981** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:52 am

im going aska stupid female question here ...................what is a rcd?

Post by **gkoutlis** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:13 am

munchkin1981 wrote:im going aska stupid female question here ...................what is a rcd?

Residual Current Device - I think it is...

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:21 pm

gkoutlis wrote:
munchkin1981 wrote:im going aska stupid female question here ...................what is a rcd?
Residual Current Device - I think it is...

Sure is!

Post by **Tyranus** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:49 pm

yep, basically cuts out and trips if the electricity doesn't all come back either because there's a cut in the lead and it's going straight to earth or it's going to something else and then you and then the ground. But the cut out is that quick it shouldn't kill you...unless you have some major heart problem or so.

munchkin1981 · Post by **munchkin1981** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:07 am

ok i think

Post by **Toottoot** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:34 pm

How did you go with the leads?

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:48 pm

Still looking for more, but have organised to borrow some from the maintenence department for the week