Jump to content

Testing & Taging of Power Leads


D and S Casey

Recommended Posts

Hello everybody I was wondering if any members are aware of this new Qld Government Legistration introduced on Jan 1st, in regards to Power Leads i.e. When on powered sites as in a Van Park your power lead must have a current Tag certifying that it is safe for use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[rant] Sounds like another one of those "if it saves one life it will be worth it" Government ideals that will cost us all and achieve very little. Truthfully, you will just as easily see defects in an extension lead by having a good long look at it each time you plug it in. Crush marks, cuts in the insulation, frayed ends, melting signs inside the clear plug-ends etc aren't hard to see. Not only that, but with the mandatory fitment of RCD's these days it is difficult to imagine a scenario where one could get electrocuted. But, if the Qld Gov't has mandated it, then it's off to the electrician you go. I wonder why they only insist on the extension lead being tested? If they are dinkum they should have every appliance in the van tested as well, just as they do in workplaces. [/rant]

Cheers

Russ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi All I went looking and found this I thought I would pass this on as it concern me about electrical safety.

The facts and the regulations about various leads in and around your RV.

By Collyn Rivers

There is widespread confusion about the new supply cable rules and some caravan parks’ requirement for tagging. These are separate matters, but do overlap in some cases, and are overseen by different regulatory bodies.

Historically, Australia’s licensed electricians followed prescribed procedures laid down in the aptly named ‘Wiring Rules’.

In recent times however the obligatory use of safety devices such as circuit breakers, which limit excess current, and residual current devices (RCDs), which disconnect electrical supply in the event of certain faults, has substantially reduced the risk of electrocution.

This has enabled a worldwide shift away from prescriptive requirements and toward practices proven to be safe, where licensed electricians now have greater freedom but carry more responsibility for their decisions and work.

The new regulations are covered in (Australian/New Zealand) Standard AS/NZS 3000:2000 (‘The Wiring Rules’) and AS/NZS 3001:2001 – Electrical installations: relocatable premises (including tents, caravans, motorhomes, etc) and their site installations; this also now includes annexes.

The new Standards are very different from earlier versions. Roger Sharp, Chairman of the Committee responsible, states it is “the most comprehensive revision that the Standard has undergone since its first appearance in 1931”.

However such Standards are not necessarily what people think. They are only ‘recommendations’ until adopted by State regulators. “Australian Standards only become law if a relevant body says so,” notes Standards Australia.

There is thus a lag between a Standard being published and becoming State law, which means not all electricians may be fully aware of the latest implications.

Caravan parks normally have 15A supply outlets protected by circuit breakers and residual current devices, but may “use an outlet of another rating or configuration … for specific anticipated types of relocatable premises” (reference #1, see at end) The latter really only affects very specialised sites catering for mining staff.

The supply side

It is now permitted to use a 10A supply cable (up to 25m long) with a 10A plug and socket, but there must be some way of restricting the current drawn to 10A.

The simplest way to connect a motorhome or similar to a 10A outlet of any kind is to arrange for the appliance inlet on the motorhome to be a 10A appliance inlet (rather than the usual 15A unit) and for the load-limiting device on the motorhome, ie, a circuit breaker, to similarly be 10A.(#2)

This change at last enables caravans to be plugged into a 15A supply outlet in a caravan park, and a 10A supply outlet at home. As few caravans and most motorhomes rarely draw more than 10A, the current restriction will only affect a small number of users.

By and large, this is a long overdue and eminently sensible change. But do note that is obligatory for the existing 15A circuit breaker to be replaced by a 10A circuit breaker, and the existing 15A supply inlet by a 10A inlet; that’s all you need legally do.

There is one minor but hopefully temporary glitch: currently there are no 10A surface-mounted sockets that provide the required minimum IP24 protection (#3), and an electrician will know what this means.

In the meantime you could use surface-mounting IP56-rated inlets. No doubt conventional flush-mounted units will soon become available.

An alternative is to use a supply cable (#4) that is permanently connected at the vehicle end, and stored in an enclosure of specified form when not in use (#5).

There are other cable alternatives: the longer the cable, the heavier its conductor must be. It is sensible and legal to use heavier cable for shorter lengths, and likewise to fit 10A plugs and sockets to 15A cable, but not vice versa!

Existing 15A, 30m leads may still be used. One very sensible new rule is that you may not interconnect supply cables (#6), which was always a dumb thing to do anyway – especially when raining, and/or as 15A to 10A ‘converters’. Now it’s illegal.

Ten to 15

It is still not permitted to fit a 10A plug and a 15A socket onto cable of any size because there can be no certainty that it will not be used to carry 15A.

The new rules also provide for retaining the 15A inlet and 15A supply capability, but to use a 10A plug and special cable (that has a built-in 10A circuit breaker, thus providing its own protection) where only 10A supply outlets are available.

If the cable is protected by an external 10A overload device with combined RCD and maximum demand does not exceed 10A then this arrangement would be acceptable. Where the full 15A circuit capacity is required, an approved 15A cable must be used. This ‘self-limiting cable’ is thus used only when circumstances dictate (#7).

Standards Australia advises that such a device might be constructed from proprietary components by a licensed electrician “who will ensure that the rating of the components and the enclosure are appropriate for the circumstances in which it will be used and comply with electrical principles… [the electrician] will also decide if consultation with the State electrical safety authority is appropriate” (#8).

The 10A RCD plug/cables currently available are not those referred to, the plug or device must be a combined CB/RCD.

I am not aware of any such commercially available cable but one can be assembled from readily available parts by a licensed electrician. No alternative enables a 10A supply cable or outlet to supply a 15A circuit load.

This still unfulfillable need usually arises in:

1. Homes with only 10A outlets. The only solution is to have a licensed electrician install a 15A circuit and supply outlet; or to use the special 10A current-limiting cable described above.

2. At caravan parks that only have 10A outlets. In this case, move on or forgo mains power, as legally required safety devices may not be installed.

To tag or not to tag

Cable tagging is covered by Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations (OHSW) rather than directly via Australian Standards (although the testing procedure is dictated by AS/NZS 3760), and is administered by WorkCover in each State.

The OHS Act, 2000 and OHS Regulation 2001 define various responsibilities. In respect to caravan parks, the Act and Regulations lay down that the owner or manager has a responsibility as an employer to any employees who work there, and as a “controller of premises” to other employees who may use park facilities (eg, leased shops, etc).

There is also a general duty of care to holidaymakers staying in or visitors to the park in respect of the electrical installation and plug-in equipment owned or controlled by the park.

But none of the above requires holidaymakers’ cables to be tagged.

“These legislative requirements do not extend to plug-in electrical equipment owned by a holidaymaker that is plugged in to the park’s electrical installation. There is no requirement for this electrical equipment to be inspected tested and tagged…

Regardless of this, WorkCover is aware that some caravan park owners have exercised a site rule (based on Public Liability requirements) requiring holidaymakers to have their extension lead tested and tagged.”(#9)

Such parks appear to be adopting the requirements of the Workplace Electrical Testing Chart. (#10). In this case, it requires testing and tagging of leads and power boards at 12-monthly intervals.

The decision to enforce tagging is thus made by individual caravan park owners. There is no legal requirement for them to do so, but it may well be a condition of their obtaining insurance cover. They do, in any case, have the right to enforce this as a condition of entry.

My own view is that inspection and tagging should be welcomed. It is enforced at CMCA Rallies where an uncomfortably large number of dangerous leads have been found.

Some were so bad that it is only luck that they didn’t kill anyone (live conductors exposed, leads with a plug at both ends). To leave such leads lying around in semi-public places is not just stupid, it’s close to being criminal.

One of the best methods to achieve the required level of safety is by following the Australian Standard covering tagging AS/NZS 3760 (In-service safety and inspection and testing of electrical equipment).

Although it is not necessary for an electrician to carry out testing under this standard, it must be conducted by a “competent person”. A competent person is someone considered to be qualified through experience, or training or both. (#11)

Other States use slightly different wording to define ‘competent person’ but the meaning is the same. That definition might seem very wide, but that person would be legally liable in the event of making an error that subsequently led to an electrocution, not least because by definition they were not ‘competent’.

I understand this matter is being actively addressed via short specialised training courses, including for caravan park managers.

This issue appears to need closer attention as it has led to situations where leads accepted as being totally safe, have been rejected as ‘unsafe’ because the caravan park manager was unaware of the new Standard.

Those professionally concerned should study the AS/NZS 3001:2001, and AS/NZS 3000:2000 (plus recent Amendments). Any decision or work relevant to this matter should be made and/or done by a licensed electrician.

Collyn Rivers is the author/publisher of Motorhome Electrics and Caravans Too and four other books in this area. Previously a GM research engineer, he later founded and edited Electronics Today International (ETI). He subsequently became technical editor of both The Bulletin and also Australian Business, and also wrote the Federal Government’s Guide to IT. He has an extensive background in research and electrical engineering but is not a licensed electrician or a professional electrical engineer.

Neither Collyn, nor CW, accepts any responsibility for its accuracy excepting that it has been researched with great care, and that the relevant authorities have provided the credited quotations, plus a great deal of background material. Collyn’s website is www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com

References

1. AS/NZS 30001:2001 Section 2.3.2.4.2.

2. Direct communication from Standards Australia.

3. Section 3.2.1 (iv) in AS/NZS 3001:2001.

4. This is Table 5.1 of the above.

5. Section 3.2.2 of the above.

6. Section 5.1.1 of the above.

7. Direct communication from Energy Safety Directorate (WA) 22 December 2003.

8. Direct communication from Standards Australia.

9. Workcover NSW. www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

10. Appendix A: Guidelines for Workplace Electrical Safety. WorkCover Corporation. ISBN: 1 877016 22 5.

11. ‘Major Workplace Hazards - Electrical Safety’, Workplace Services, Dept of Administrative and Information Services, Govt of South Australia.

Published : Monday, 24 October 2005

Disqus.

.

. Like.

Dislike.

.

..

Login

Add

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,

For the record I am a qualified electrician and contractor, no surprise to some no doubt.

My working career and businesses have been involved in the construction industry's since the early 70's, so I have been a part of the evolution of electrical safety initiatives in that industry and the workplace.

RCD's and tagging of leads, hand tools and appliances in the construction industry has been around for many years, it's been embraced by most and does in fact provide a degree of comfort to workers and management alike that when you use electrically operated tools and appliances you are less likely than in the distant past of suffering an injury or death due to an electrical incident.

In the end though electrical safety, as with all safety considerations, is first and foremost the responsibility of the end user/operator. I have read the article posted by Richard before and found it quite useful on the topic currently the subject of this thread.

Here's my thoughts or food for your own on this topic and electrical safety in general. My use of the word caravan should be read to include motor homes, camper trailers and other portable buildings.:

  1. If caravan parks venture into the to tag or not to tag debate they should consider also that they may need to provide tagging and testing as a service, at least until it becomes a more widely accepted requirement.
  2. Will caravan parks actually be increasing their liability by posting a sign saying tagged and tested leads are required and then not policing that policy by inspection. What about the rest of your rig, perhaps there should be an annual inspection/compliance sticker attached.
  3. No amount of tagging and testing can prevent stupid people from using unsafe electrical equipment, I've cut many plug tops off leads, tools and appliances that have current tags. The tag and testing is only really valid until the next time the gear is used, after that it's up to the vigilance of the end user/operator.
  4. How many caravan parks, caravaners or home owners for that matter regularly test their RCD's, they can fail!
  5. How many older caravans don't have RCD's
  6. How many caravans have had an extra power point installed in them and are sure that the new and existing power points are all double pole.
  7. How many caravaners know that the power connected to their van is actually of the correct polarity, I do, I check it when we hook up, it can been wrong, that's why you need double pole power outlets.
  8. If tagging and testing becomes mandatory who will regulate the "competent people" no good relying on a small uninsured operator if you don't have any recourse in the event of an incident. The electrical contracting industry in every state is very accountable, the competent person falls through the cracks.
  9. I can't answer this one, but is it a requirement to have RCD's and smoke detectors fitted to used caravan that is sold, similar to homes in WA.
  10. When will it be a requirement to have all power leads suspended above the ground as this is when they are at greater risk of damage.

Perhaps I should undertake a survey whilst on my travels, could be a scary outcome, a bit like weights I suspect.

This is a can of worms, but, you are your best safety device, use common sense and take great care when operating or using electrical equipment.

Regards

John(on assignment in Kununurra, the travel this great land assignment that is)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greetings all.

Incase worst comes to worse,I sussed out an electrical contractor mate in NSW who tested & tagged a lead for $5.

I did ask him the obvious question of has he heard of van parks requiring the T&T leads and he said yes but could not name them.He stated that they required it for insurance purposes and has T&T'd leads at customers requests.

Can of worms for sure.

The regulation requiring the T&T is AS/NZS 3760:2003

Because the lead is flexed and moved it would require re test every 12 months.

What next?????? :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...