Ampfibian 10A to 15A converter

[cruisindoug]

G'day everyone
Over on the Classic van forum there has been some discussion about this product and legal ways of connecting a 10A socket to your van, here is the thread:

ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=techno&action=display&thread=948

The product link is here:

www.ampfibian.com.au/productsRV01.htm

To summarise, I have reproduced my final post here:

Well still no word from the govt department BUT there is some news. It seems I was asking Ampfibian the wrong questions, here is the lastest reply:

Hi Doug,
You are correct and yes these products do fall under declared
articles. Even if an electrician puts something together along the same
lines and puts a safety tag on it it is still not legal to be sold to the
public as it needs to be certified by a lab. The following are the approval
numbers for the products;

RV-02 = AP number SGS/110126. Approved to AS/NZS 3190 Class H & L. As this
product is approved for class H this means it can be used in Industrial
environments and construction sites.

RV-01 = AP number SGS/110127. Approved to AS/NZS 3105.

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask. Cheers.

Regards,

David Betterridge

AMPFIBIAN

ph: 0408367553


I have also confirmed with MY insurance company (Shannons) that they have no issue with the use of this product, however, my mistrust of insurance companies in general says why would they RING me back in response to an email? Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid.

But in any case, I believe that this product is legal to use based on the answers I have had.

Also, I have been able to procure a bulk purchase price for these items based on an order of 20 or more for the price of $144.55 ea. That is against a standard price of $159, so I believe this would only be a useful discount if postage is not a factor.

So probably only useful for those that attend SEQ events or live close to Brisbane Northside. If there is enough interest, I will place an order and distribute via events or you can come pick it up whichever you like. I am attending the next 3 SEQ events.


If anyone is interested in one of these products to make up an order of 20 please indicate on this thread.

Cheers, Doug.

[surfingyogini]

Can you please explain this to me as I've got no idea what you mean? I read the classic caravan thread and have done an extensive google search but I don't really understand what I'm reading? When we got our van, it just came with a big long orange cord that we use to plug into the power point in the garage when we need to have any 240v on in the van. I didn't know (and still don't to be honest) that there was a difference between the power point at home and what the van would be wired as? Should we be doing something different? Am I about to set fire to my bondwood baby?

[Franklin1]

Hi Liz,

The "standard" caravan power lead and associated outlet and inlet at either end are 15 Amps rating. If you look at the 3-prong plug end of your lead, the Earth pin will be larger than the Earth pin on a typical household 240V appliance plug.

You cannot plug a 15 Amp lead into a standard household power socket, because the Earth pin is too big to fit in the slot. Standard household power sockets are rated at 10 Amps.

15 Amps is used in caravan parks because of the higher electrical load that all the appliances in the van can produce if used at the same time (or lots used together).

If you're eyes haven't glazed over yet , then the device that Doug has listed allows you to plug your 15 Amp lead into your van at one end, and then have a 10 Amp plug at the other end that allows you to plug into a normal household socket. The device sits in the 'middle' of the two leads.

If you can plug your caravan lead into a power point in the garage, then I would presume you have a 15 Amp power point installed there.

You might like to get someone to double-check what you have on the van and in the garage, just to put your mind at ease.

No, you won't blow the van up. Your household safety switches will take care of any overloading (or they should).

That's enough for this session.

cheers,
Al.

[cruisindoug]

Hi Liz,
As Al said, and to cut a long story short, its a better (read legal) way of being able to plug your 15 amp lead that you need for the van into any normal 10 amp socket.

If there was ever a problem (say a fire) your insurance company will probably run a mile if you have a dodgy lead set up to plug in to a 10 amp socket like plenty of people do.

Maybe unlikely but in my book not worth the risk to save $145.

Cheers, Doug.

[surfingyogini]

Huh... Thanks that does make sense! I guess we just have some "dodgy lead set-up" that I should probably think again about! Thanks for the info!!!





(and thanks for bearing with my ignorance!)

[oldbitsmadenew]

Hi

Thanks for drawing my attention to something that I was completely unaware of, just yesterday I bought a 15A lead for my van without the knowledge shared here. I guess I would have worked it out when I went to plug it in........

oldbitsmadenew