1.5mm or 2.5mm hook up cables?

[Tony68000]

Are there any issues using 16amp 1.5mm cables for electric hookups?

I'm sure I've read somewhere that they aren't acceptable, but the ones I'm looking at are BS rated and 16amps, so is there a problem or not?

Thanks.

 

[NicM]

Think 1.5 is rated at 10 amps, 2.5 13 amps so best to use 2.5, less volt drop as well.

 

[pappajohn]

In a domestic situation 1.5 is lighting cable, 2.5 is socket ring main.
I would use 2.5

 

[NicM]

Just to add, you are plugging it to 16 amp socket so should always be 2.5.

 

[Scotch mist]

The light one is ok for short runs 10-15m , above that it would be 2.5 for me

Edited , 1.5 is rated 14-20 amp , unless I’m running long distances or drawing large wattage it’s ample for me ,

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[NicM]

The light one is ok for short runs 10-15m , above that it would be 2.5 for me

No, it’s not the safe way to do it!

 

[Richard n Ann]

Ours came with a 2.5mm² 25m cable.

I replaced it with 1.5 as it's lighter and easier to coil up and store. We only use it for the battery charger though and occasionally hair dryer.

 

[Tony68000]

If you could only carry one, what length would you get? At this point, until I have a requirement I don’t want to be buying 2. 15m or 25m?

 

[Silver-Fox]

If you could only carry one, what length would you get? At this point, until I have a requirement I don’t want to be buying 2. 15m or 25m?

Get a 25m and split it 10 and 15.

That’s what I have done as if I need a shorter lead it save coiling up a 25m

 

[Phill D]

Get a 25m and split it 10 and 15.

That’s what I have done as if I need a shorter lead it save coiling up a 25m

same here then i use one of these

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[MisterB]

1.5mm Arctic Cable for me - its rated up to 16A, which is in excess of any hook ups i have ever used - i have split a 25m into a 10m and 15m - i wouldnt use a splitter on my cable to feed another moho/caravan though ....

my cables are joined using the same connectors as an standard hookup, i can use a 10m length, a 15m length (or a 25m length with them joined) - and because they are both terminated the same way it doesnt matter if i use whichever i grab first ...

easier to store, flexible at low temperatures

the insulation on 2.5mm cable is about 0.3mm (inner and outer sheath) thicker than 1.5mm - so perhaps not as hardwearing to mechanical damage - but all cables should be checked before using them anyway.

 

[Silver-Fox]

same here then i use one of these

View attachment 558284

I haven’t got one of those, I like living on the edge

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you could only carry one, what length would you get? At this point, until I have a requirement I don’t want to be buying 2. 15m or 25m?

Just get a 25m one, I just shove the extra under the van

 

[Two on Tour]

We carry a 1.5mm EHU cable as we are rarely on EHU, and when we are the only 240v we use is the water heater at 6.5amps, the battery chargers which draws less than an amp and the fridge which draws bugger all, so well with the rated capacity for cable.

 

[ctc]

I have seen poorly connected plugs and sockets damaged but never seen a cable with burn damage from overload. Watched a member of the travelling community connect with bare wires and match sticks then proceed to use a splitter for his parents van while his own cable ran his washing machine. The only problem was his father who occasionally tripped over the cable disconnecting the cooker. This was in France, where they make less fuss about health and safety, if you want to die you are free to do so.

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[MisterB]

a short video on cable being overloaded ........

but it was a hell of a lot more than 16Amps and no protective devices (fuse etc)

 

[WillH]

2.5mm² and 25m long.

 

[Itsmcb]

I have two cables, BOTH 2.5 and both 25 metres long. I've had a couple of occasions when I've needed both but never in the UK.

 

[Itsmcb]

I keep mine on these type of things, I can unwind just what I need and the rest won't overheat as it's not tightly coiled. Easy to wind back up again too.

 

[pappajohn]

I keep mine on these type of things, I can unwind just what I need and the rest won't overheat as it's not tightly coiled. Easy to wind back up again too.View attachment 558328

Sorry, but it is coiled.....not in a neat circle but coiled nonetheless.

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[autorouter]

The choice between 1.5 and 2.5 is not a safety problem. 1.5mm2 cable will easily carry 16A. It is used for 16A wiring everywhere outside the UK. (the UK has 13A plugs, other countries have 16A plugs).

The reason it's not recommended is the voltage drop: 9V for 25m of 1.5mm2 cable, ie 4% of 230V. Compared to 5.5V for 2.5mm2 cable, ie 2.4%. The recommendation is to keep the voltage drop below 3%, so that the appliance functions correctly and efficiently.

Note that 15m of 1.5mm2 cable has the same voltage drop as 25m of 2.5mm2 cable.

And if the hookup post is 10A, then 25m of 1.5mm2 has the same voltage drop as 2.5mm2 from a 16A post.

 

[Itsmcb]

Sorry, but it is coiled.....not in a neat circle but coiled nonetheless.

Well yes it is 'coiled' but loosely coiled in about 10 loose loops open to the air not tightly wrapped around a plastic drum. I've never experienced it warming up even slightly.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The choice between 1.5 and 2.5 is not a safety problem. 1.5mm2 cable will easily carry 16A. It is used for 16A wiring everywhere outside the UK. (the UK has 13A plugs, other countries have 16A plugs).

The reason it's not recommended is the voltage drop: 9V for 25m of 1.5mm2 cable, ie 4% of 230V. Compared to 5.5V for 2.5mm2 cable, ie 2.4%. The recommendation is to keep the voltage drop below 3%, so that the appliance functions correctly and efficiently.

Note that 15m of 1.5mm2 cable has the same voltage drop as 25m of 2.5mm2 cable.

And if the hookup post is 10A, then 25m of 1.5mm2 has the same voltage drop as 2.5mm2 from a 16A post.

But with a low current the voltage drop will be minimal?

 

[autorouter]

But with a low current the voltage drop will be minimal?

Yes, the voltage drop is proportional. So for 1/10 the current, you get 1/10 the voltage drop. ie for 1.6A the voltage drop is 0.55V for 2.5mm2 (0.24%), and 0.9V for 1.5mm2 (0.4%).

 

[Lenny HB]

If you could only carry one, what length would you get? At this point, until I have a requirement I don’t want to be buying 2. 15m or 25m?

If only carrying one cable I would go for 50m it's the standard length on the contenent.

The reason it's not recommended is the voltage drop: 9V for 25m of 1.5mm2 cable, ie 4% of 230V. Compared to 5.5V for 2.5mm2 cable, ie 2.4%. The recommendation is to keep the voltage drop below 3%, so that the appliance functions correctly and efficiently.

But that's only if you are drawing full power if only running fridge & charger the volt drop will be negligible.

The NCC went with 2.5 because at the time 1.5 cable was only rated at 15 amps and the plugs/sockets/outlets were rated at 16 amps.

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[Jonno1103]

Essentially invest in a hook up cable which will safely do the job for you in any scenario rather than faff around for sake of a few quid. We have 3 cables, 10m, 15m, & 25m all are 2.5m2 and always fully unwound when in use.

 

[dunnah01]

2.5mm cable all day long. 1.5mm isn't robust enough for those occasions when it gets driven over on a gravel pitch

 

[cmcardle75]

1.5mm is rated at 16A load (although check this, some are only rated 15A). The other issues are voltage drop and short live-neutral short circuit protection. The 1.5mm is officially quite limited in the maximum length by voltage drop (about 15m). However, it is unlikely to cause any serious issues. Electronic equipment is generally much more tolerant of voltage variation than in the past. This is particularly true in the UK, where you have 20V more to play with, as to be approved, mains equipment must be rated to 230V +/- 10%, which is 207V, whilst the supply is generally quite tight to 240V. In EU countries, the actual voltage is generally around 220V, and in practice, more variable, so becomes much more of an issue.

As for short circuit protection, my calculations (which could well be a bit faulty, so check yourself!) show that the 1.5mm max loop length is around 78m (Type B MCB), although that is dependent on the source impedence. Remember that this value is independent of how much electricity you intend to draw, so applies equally to those just using a battery charger. This rating is about a live-neutral short producing enough current to immediately trip the campsite MCB. If the total resistance is too high, then the short circuit current isn't enough and you have to rely on the thermal curve, which might take seconds, rather than milliseconds, to disconnect.

I personally would have no qualms about 25m of 1.5mm, provided the source (i.e. campsite) MCB was a 16A Type B. I would not go longer, though. If the source MCB was a 16A Type C, it's a bit tighter, but still around 42m, so just OK. However, you should not consider going longer than 25m.

Remember that 2.5mm is much bulkier, stiffer and harder to handle and store than 1.5mm. It isn't just a case of being tight fisted.

However, it is probably worth the thicker cable if you want > 25m total length, travel in EU countries, or regularly use the full 16A of supply (i.e. use space heating in winter and other high current gadgets).

The suggestion of carrying a total of 50m of 2.5mm would certainly cover all bases, but such a collection would be very bulky and might not be a sensible suggestion for a small PVC with very limited storage and no electric heating, where a 25m (or even 15m) 1.5mm cable would take approximately 1/3rd the storage space and cover 90% of situations.

 

[RustyRuss]

I keep mine on these type of things, I can unwind just what I need and the rest won't overheat as it's not tightly coiled. Easy to wind back up again too.View attachment 558328

Very dangerous practice to coil cables on these and then draw any current through them, for your own safety and the safety of others always completely uncoil the cable from the holder and leave in random snake like pattern under the MoHo away from sunlight if poss. Coiled cables generate staggering amounts of heat in very short periods of time. Be safe buddy, uncoil! I am an electrician of 35 years standing and have seen many fires and burnt out coiled cables, especially on building sites.

Cheers!

Russ

 

[RustyRuss]

Follow this link for eland cables arctic cable. It clearly states on page 2 that 1.5mm 3 core cable has a current carrying capacity of 16amps. However as a safety conscious bod I would err on the side of caution, this it’s MAXIMUM current carrying capacity, I use 2.5mm 3 core max 25m long for 16amp EHU posts and 1.5mm 3 core only for 10amp EHU posts. I use the 1.5 when hooked up at home to my outside socket, it’s protected by a 10amp MCB so the very most current it will experience before the MCB trips is 1.2 x 10amps = 12amps. A 16amp MCB will trip/break/disconnect at 1.2 x 16amps = 19.2 amps, 20% more than the cable is designed to cope with. This is known as the MCB’s fusing factor; incidentally old fashioned fuses like you find in your 13amp plugs have a fusing factor of 2! So it’ll eventually break at 2X13amps = 26amps!! That’s 6.24KW and when you expose 1.5mm 3 core cable to that amount of current for 2-3 minutes the insulation, both inner and outer, gets so hot that it starts to melt. So it will catch fire before the fuse blows.
EDIT, just had another look at the data sheet below, if the ambient temperature the cable experiences is 40 degrees C, so for example at the side of the MoHo in full sunlight on hard standing with no cooling breeze, the de-rating factor is 0.82, so 16amps max capacity x 0.82 = 13.12amps max capacity, at 50degrees C, so for example on a campsite on hard standing in full sunlight in the South of France or Spain the de-rating factor is 0.41, so that’s 16amps x 0.41 = 6.56amps max capacity. The 2.5mm 3 core’s max capacity is 25amps, 25 x 0.41 = 10.25amps!!

Sorry to get technical but electricity is so much a part of our daily lives that we can become blase about how bloody dangerous it can be!!

https://www.elandcables.com/media/38199/arctic-grade-cable-h05vv-f.pdf


Cheers and stay safe boys n girls!!


Russ