Power breaker - solve an argument please!

LSainsbury · 27-04-2008, 08:43

OK me and her indoors are having a "discussion" on power breakers...

Today she wants to mow the lawn. We have an extension cable (made for use outside) which the mower will plug into. Where does the power break go?

On the end of the extension which plugs into the wall or into the extension socket where the mower will plug into?

She says the extension socket, I say into the wall socket as you are protecting the entire circuit.

Vlad_Dracul · 27-04-2008, 08:45

It goes in the wall socket then the whole system is protected. Do you also have RCDs on your "fusebox"?

LSainsbury · 27-04-2008, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad_Dracul

It goes in the wall socket then the whole system is protected. Do you also have RCDs on your "fusebox"?

It's a new house so I would expect so if they are standard regulations these days!

Paul · 27-04-2008, 08:50

Def wall socket.

bopdude · 27-04-2008, 09:08

Yep, deffo the wall socket, as you said, it then protects the lead

Halcyon · 27-04-2008, 09:26

Wall socket.
If you have it on the other end and then mow through the cable, it will be unsafe.
I'm sure your house power will trip but it will still be unsafe.
Connect at the wall socket.

Jon T · 27-04-2008, 09:55

another vote for wall socket from me.

Don't want to be left with a live extension lead that could have been causing the fault in the first place.

papa smurf · 27-04-2008, 09:56

so when you gona tell here

Raistlin · 27-04-2008, 10:00

Wall socket.

You're then protected more fully if you cut the cable for the extension lead.

LSainsbury · 27-04-2008, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

so when you gona tell here

Already broke the bad news to her...

1 - 0 to me today...

Matthew · 27-04-2008, 10:46

At the socket on the wall and everything is protected then.

greencreeper · 27-04-2008, 12:11

Me as a teenager, happily cutting my grandad's hedge when the hedge trimmers just stopped. Completely dead. Odd. Checked the plug - still firmly in. Consumer unit - no tripped switch. Hmmm. Changed the fuse in the plug - still nothing. Resigned myself to a new pair of hedge trimmers. Started to tidy away the cable when I found these bare wires - as if someone had caught the cable in a pair of hedge trimmers and not realised

So - safety starts with the individual. I never touch hedge trimmers now.

Octal · 27-04-2008, 12:21

If it's a new installation I think you'll find all socket outlets on a downstairs ring main is assumed they are likely to be able to feed portable equipment outside, therefore they will be protected by an RCD at the consumer unit.

tweetypie/8 · 27-04-2008, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

OK me and her indoors are having a "discussion" on power breakers...

Today she wants to mow the lawn. We have an extension cable (made for use outside) which the mower will plug into. Where does the power break go?

On the end of the extension which plugs into the wall or into the extension socket where the mower will plug into?

She says the extension socket, I say into the wall socket as you are protecting the entire circuit.

wall socket it is m8.

27-04-2008, 22:17

I raised this point with an electrician doing some wiring in our kitchen, he said we were protected by the RCD switches in the consumer unit - that they were the primary circuit breakers, & thus plugging in 'extra' ones was not necessary, whether wall plate or garden ???

- that is assuming they are properly fitted & earth bonded, of course