Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: pauls on 12 July 2013, 14:59:53
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Quick question I have a 3kw intex pool heater I have plugged it in for the first time today it is plugged into a heavy duty 13a ext lead because the heater lead is not long enough. After about 1/2 hour I went out to make sure its ok and I found that the heater plug is very warm and the extension plug is also warm. Is this a problem worried it is going to get to hot and catch fire. If it is how do I sort it.
cheer Paul
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Sounds like the extension lead is probably not up to that load continuously.
Firstly, make sure that the extension lead is fully unwound and rated for the full 13 Amps. Many are only rated at 6 or 10 amps. You really need 1.5mm 3 core flex at the minimum to handle that current, so see if the cable has any markings on. It may well be only 1 mm.
If that seems well, make sure the plugs are wired neatly, with the cables securely clamped into the terminals and no stray strands of wire broken off or outside the terminal. Make sure the pins are clean too. A rub with steel wool or wet & dry wouldn't go amiss. You're looking to reduce the resistance at each of the connections. If either of the plugs are cheap and nasty replace with a quality make such as MK.
To be honest, for a 13A plug to carry the full 13A load continuously (which is what is being asked of it for a 3kW heater) is quite unusual. Other high power appliances such as kettles and heaters are generally only used intermittently and these days are normally around the 2-2.2 kW range. I think you can expect a little heat in the plugs, but obviously you need to take a view on whether it's getting so hot that it'll cause a problem.
When you look at appliances that are likely to draw 3kW for hours on end (e.g. Immersion heaters) they are on their own spur and hard wires into a spur box, for good reason.
The best way to do it would probably be to run a generously rated RCD protected circuit in SWA into the garden and hard wire it using a suitable waterproof fitting, but that would need to be carried out under Part P.
Failing that, make yourself up a better extension lead using 1.5 or even 2.5mm flex with quality fittings at each end and only make it as long as it needs to be.
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Failing that, make yourself up a better extension lead using 1.5 or even 2.5mm flex with quality fittings at each end and only make it as long as it needs to be.
Or replace the cable with a longer one :y :y :y
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Failing that, make yourself up a better extension lead using 1.5 or even 2.5mm flex with quality fittings at each end and only make it as long as it needs to be.
Or replace the cable with a longer one :y :y :y
Yep, if you're prepared / able to open up the appliance and wire in a longer cable. :y
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Thanks for the answers I thought it was the extension lead. Could I make the lead out of 2.5mm2 twin and earth. Same stuff as a ringmain wire then stick a 13a plug on the end
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Thanks for the answers I thought it was the extension lead. Could I make the lead out of 2.5mm2 twin and earth. Same stuff as a ringmain wire then stick a 13a plug on the end
NO!!!!!!
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Thanks for the answers I thought it was the extension lead. Could I make the lead out of 2.5mm2 twin and earth. Same stuff as a ringmain wire then stick a 13a plug on the end
No, use flex because it's more durable and the terminals in plugs and sockets are designed to take stranded wire and won't adequately grip the solid conductors in T&E.
I wonder if you'd easily get 2.5mm flex into a 13A plug, though, thinking about it. Might be better to use 1.5.
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You could use 2.5mm cable with an IP44 240v 16A rated plug and socket.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16A-amp-IP44-240v-BLUE-3-pin-Plug-and-Socket-Connector-Caravan-Camping-hook-up-/110755092123 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16A-amp-IP44-240v-BLUE-3-pin-Plug-and-Socket-Connector-Caravan-Camping-hook-up-/110755092123)
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Quick question I have a 3kw intex pool heater I have plugged it in for the first time today it is plugged into a heavy duty 13a ext lead because the heater lead is not long enough. After about 1/2 hour I went out to make sure its ok and I found that the heater plug is very warm and the extension plug is also warm. Is this a problem worried it is going to get to hot and catch fire. If it is how do I sort it.
cheer Paul
It is quite normal for the plug top to get warm when pulling that kind of current for prolonged periods of time.
Providing the extension lead you are using is actually rated to let 13A pass continuously (and it is fully unwound if it is the reel type), then you'll be fine.
PS
If either of the plugs or the extension socket are going to fail, they initially start to melt around the pins themselves.
If any of the plugs have removable tops, it may pay to check the conductors inside are screwed up tight as well.
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Not sure how big your Pool is or how efficient a 3k heater is going to be but I reckon your leccy bill is going to take a hammering, think if was me I would be looking at some solar panel(s) even 2nd hand ones and some simple plumbing, probably pay for its self in a year or two seeing as where having a nice summer so far..
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Not sure how big your Pool is or how efficient a 3k heater is going to be but I reckon your leccy bill is going to take a hammering, think if was me I would be looking at some solar panel(s) even 2nd hand ones and some simple plumbing, probably pay for its self in a year or two seeing as where having a nice summer so far..
Somewhere between 35-45p per hour, i suspect, depending on the tariff the OP is on.
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Not sure how big your Pool is or how efficient a 3k heater is going to be but I reckon your leccy bill is going to take a hammering, think if was me I would be looking at some solar panel(s) even 2nd hand ones and some simple plumbing, probably pay for its self in a year or two seeing as where having a nice summer so far..
It is reasonably cheap to make your own at about £500 and have a 12v lead acid battery and 12v solar panel, that way it costs nothing.
http://www.solarfriend.co.uk/ (http://www.solarfriend.co.uk/)
I'm going to make one of these once I'm permanently in the Ukraine. I haven't decided whether to make or buy the controller. Although I think I will probably make and program it as I would like to have a network interface and PC program so it automatically logs temperatures and pump running time and uploads it onto a dedicated website. I think it will also make an interesting thread on here. This might be a good use for raspberry pi's
At 40-45p an hour to heat the pool or £10 a day, the solar panel would pay for itself in 50 days.