Hookup cable

[Pepperami]

Get yourself one of these http://www.justkampers.com/shop/camping/leisur ... -tidy.html comes with a bag and stops your bus getting wet/muddy/covered in grass.

[1664]

A cable is not just a cable. As mentioned, although they look similar the connection pin layouts are different and the 110v cable's insulation is not built to withstand 240v, and the insulation is just as important as it's current carrying capabilities. Try to avoid wrapping the cable up 'tightly' - a nice loose loop is better and won't place strain on the inner cores. There's no reason you can't shorten your existing one though; but we all know what will happen then.............

[Steve T]

Fozzie

What you could do is cut the cable in too 2 pieces, 1 length 1 third, 2nd length 2 thirds, get 1 male and 1 female plug. there you are you have three options, 1 length 7M, 2nd length 14M, when joined together 22M. I did this with mine although mine was 25M so had 10M & 15M.

Should you need the full length, ( 2 joined together ) to protect the exposed plug joint from the worst the weather elements can throw at you I used an old sandwich box sealed with lid with slot each end for cable. Probably over the top but would not want to have that imersed in a puddle of water, I think they are weather resistant and splash proof, not water proof, IP44 not IP55 or IP67

IP44 = Weather resistant and splashproof (normal 3 pin pushfit 16 Amp spring lid ) and other equipment
IP55 = Weather-proof (not designated to 3 pin pushfit 16 Amp) (dont think so ) but applies to other equipment
IP67 = Watertight ( Screwthread male to female housing may not be able to mix screw thread with spring lid?) More expensive but probably the best

Hope this helps, And if wrong with info sure a sparky on here will put it right

[1664]

enter sparkie stage left........

IP = 'Ingress protection'
1st digit: ingress by solid matter such as fingers, dirt, dust etc so irrelevant for our discussion
2nd digit; ingress by liquids

IPX4 (X denotes solids are not relevant) 'Splash Proof'
IPX5 resistant to liquid appearing from any direction I think (don't come across IPX5 much)
IPX6 resistent to liquid from any direction and under pressure (hoses, water jets and the like)
IPX7 (or is it IPX8? Can't be sure now) resistant to total immersion in liquids

I wouldn't trust IPX7 further than I could chuck it........

[Steve T]

Well done 1664

I have learnt something new today, numbers make sense now, also to note perhaps no matter how good a plug is, as you speak from a sparkie point of view

I wouldn't trust IPX7 further than I could chuck it........

even if you emersed a joined IPX7 socket in water can you trust the lead?, it is a good idea to check leads are not damaged in any way, as pepperami said get a decent cable tidy for longer life of the cable & plugs. Camping season coming up check them now, in theory you could sit in a bath of water with a suposed IPX7 or IPX8 ( resistant to total emersion in liquid) but of course no one would. (do not try this at home) Out of interest what designation does the 16 Amp cable carry if any?

Steve

[DiscoDave]

IPX4 - Protected against sprays from all directions - limited ingress permitted
IPX5 - Protected against low pressure jets if water from all directions - limited ingress permitted
IPX6 - Protected against strong jets of water e.g. for use on shipdecks - limited ingress permitted
IPX7 - Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes
IPX8 - Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure up to 5m
IPXX - Bullet proof - nothing is getting in >5m submersion

Camping season??? since when has there been a season for it?

as for the theory of sitting in a bath with a power cable and joined socket etc, thing lighting in swimming pools same sort of thing, you just don't think about it as much as you would if there was somone doing the hoovering by the poolside with the power lead running across the pool.

as for the rating of the cable i assume you mean an IP rating? as far as i am aware there is no IP rating applied to cables as when in good condition by their very nature they should be IPXX. otherwise you'd be getting shocks all over the place.

[Fozzie]

Whew... OK, now I'm beginning to understand. Conclusion I'm coming to is that the marginal extra weight/bulk of the 25m 2.5mm cable doesn't justify the risk/inconvenience of swapping to a 14m 1.5mm one. Interesting learning experience though - thanks all.

[bangadrum]

1664, while you are in theory correct, in practice nearly all 110V cable is rated for 240V. I suppose there's no economy in making 110V cable when the standard processes more than cover it.

I agree with the above, buy some extra connectors and make your long thick cable into two shorter thick cables.