electrical socket advice? Forums

4by4

Hi,

Newbie question so apologies first of all!

I have a 1988 autosleeper ford flair camper which has a couple of electrical sockets. One is a 12v cig lighter style connection which is self explanatory the other is a domestic style 3 pin socket.

The question I have is my autosleeper handbook states that the max plug that can be connected is 3 amps? I'm trying to buy a fan heater and all that I have so far located run off a standard domestic plug ie 13 amps. Would it be unsafe to use one of these??? Any advice would be appreciated.

autostratus · Moderator

The actual plug only serves to transfer electricity to the cable and thus to the appliance.
There is a fuse in the plug which may be 13 amp and will therefore carry a current of 13 amps or can be replaced with other ratings which include 3 amp.

If a 3 amp fuse is in the plug it will 'blow' if you try to run an appliance which tries to take more than 3 amps thus safeguarding the wiring which may for instance overheat and eventually cause a fire.

You should try to find a heater which only needs 3 amps to run it and ensure that the fuse in the connecting plug is max of 3 amp.

As ampsXvolts equals watts and 3amp x 230volts = 690watts you should look for a heater of less than 690 watts. Very difficult I would think.

Others here may have suggestions.

Anonymous

How do you know all this Gillian? I am mightly impressed. Even hosepipes cause me a lot of trouble.

spykal · Moderator

Hi 4by4

If the electrical installation is original and since you mention the handbook refereing to it, it sounds as though it is, then to fit a 13amp socket and restrict its use to 3 amp sounds all wrong to me. It is normal to restrict the load you put on a hook up but this is to do with the supply from the hook up point not the van wiring. Why not try a call to Autosleepers to check it out. Maybe its an error in the handbook?

If you have a friendly electrician handy get him to check out the wiring of the van, it will be easy for a competent person ( or an electrician Laughing

) to sort this out for you.

Mike

4by4

Thanks guys.. I Think Confused

I tend to agree with Spykal surely I dont need to rewire the socket on the camper. Think I need to check this with Autosleepers.

Thanks again!

jabber

Micromark used to do a 500 watt fan heater, I know because I have one! I don't know but they may still be available in caravan shops etc.

John Cool

epavelin

Hi,
I have a 1989 Flair, and, if I recall correctly, the handbook only refers to the 12V socket as being limited to 3 amps. I don't remember the manual saying anything about the 240v socket, but mine has a 10 amp circuit breaker on the 240v socket circuit, so the limit ought to be 10A.

Have a look at the circuit breakers in your van (they are to the left of the extractor fan switch on the control panel) and see what the amp rating is. Mine has 2 breakers- one for the fridge, one for the sockets. I think the fridge is 5A, and the sockets 10A.

Ed.

4by4

Ahhh..thanks Ed I'll check this tonight. It maybe I misunderstood the info in the Handbook. Embarassed