Hi
I received a Bosch Universal Aquatek 130 pressure washer as a Xmas gift. I would like to ask for a few recommendation for a heavy duty 15-20m extension cord for this pressure washer; preferable with some safety features.
Thanks
Hi @Ericlim,
With your extension lead being used with a pressure washer, the main thing you'll need to consider is water, so protecting the connection between the plugs is the most important thing.
I'd suggest this Arlec 15m Heavy Duty Extension Lead With Bonus IP44 Cord Safety Box, or a similar heavy duty extension lead with an Arlec IP44 Outdoor Safety Box.
Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Jacob
Hi Jacob
Merry Christmas! Thanks for your prompt response.Â
Does this comes with auto switch off for overheat / overload so that it would not affect the fuses at the home electric switchboard?Â
Is it better to get those with reel for easier storage?Â
Merry Christmas to you, too.Â
No, they do not come with built-in overload protections, although I wouldn't say they are 100% necessary, as electrical circuits are protected by circuit breakers at the switchboard.
If you were concerned and didn't want to rely on the circuit breaker in your switchboard, then you could always use a Click 25m Heavy Duty 4 Outlet Cable Reel which has these inbuilt protections, but I would still recommend using an IP44 cord box to protect the connection between the pressure washer and extension lead from water.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Hi @Ericlim,
I strongly recommend also purchasing this extra item.
Or this item.
The 1st one is ideal for your application and that is what I recommend.
The 2nd one is ideal for DIY out in the yard and both have RCD protection.
Note: Some of the info below is from Google AI and some from myself and... I never commit plagiarism.
Domestic Switchboard AKA Meter Box:
An RCD (Residual Current Device) protects people from electric shock by detecting earth leakage (current going where it shouldn't), while an MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) protects wiring/equipment from fires by preventing overcurrent's (overloads and short circuits). They perform different jobs: RCDs (30mA for people) for shock, MCBs (Amps) for overcurrent, but both are essential for a complete, safe electrical system, often used together, or combined in an RCBO.
Maybe it's because I have both electrical and electronics engineering degrees and also a trade qualification (not sparky) that I feel compelled to promote electrical safety. When using your Xmas gift it's important to understand what type protection is behind that power point you plug into (as above) or simply play safe and get one of those RCD's I first mentioned.
Cheers
Hi AlanM52
Thanks for your suggestion. Just 1 query
1. Instead of the 1.8m arlec, epyld the arlec 15m (see attachment)
 would this do so that I do not need to buy the other recommendation in earlier response? I needed a longer extension than 1.8mÂ
I should have mentioned that one of those RCD's is used in conjunction with an extension lead.
Allow me to make changes to give you the best combo value:
Arlec Single Outlet Safety Switch.
In conjunction with:
The extension lead that @JacobZ mentioned.
If the RDC becomes faulty or the extension lead is damaged you avoid having to buy:
The whole thing (above) and that will also allow you to make full use of the RCD elsewhere around the house for example - electric blanket.
Thanks mate! Merry Christmas and happy new year!
G'day @AlanM52Â
I tried AI this morning. Told me this...
Would all the Arlec products above satisfy this new Type A/B standard?
All of mine would be outta date - but I can't find Type AC written on any of them?
I can see AD.
How ya goin @Noyade,
To me that looks like a very trendy 'up market' switchboard, checkout my photos!
   Â
😄 😄 😄 😄
Two story family home was built in 1971 by A V Jennings and the board has had one upgrade when the smart meter was installed.
So you still have three wire based fuses?
Yeah mate...original fuses and fuse wire from when the house was built in 1971.
You may be wondering why the board is so ancient and there is a reason for that.
Over the decades many electricians (people I know and contractors) have stood there staring at the board scratching heads - internal wall and two story house.
The board had one 'upgrade' when the smart meter was installed.
New kitchen (upstairs) and Sparkie gave up and installed better breakers.
Colorbond garage AKA Workshop Sparkie gave up and tapped of the dining room power point.
Previous to that late seventies the only option I had for aircon was wall mounted with 10A plug.
The same power point that the garage Sparkie tapped off of lol.
Afternoon Alan. @AlanM52Â
My house was built circa 1947. An electrical disaster that has never really been solved and at one point we sat in our solicitor's office seeking advice. The front of the house still has the 'cloth' covered wiring which travels through steel conduit. An electrician in the early 90's put circuit breakers in with strict instructions to stay outta the roof and never step on the steel conduit.
I've done my best to stay out.
Cheers!
Good evening @Noyade,
WOW... wondering what your board looks like.
1947 is when I first saw daylight.
Evening @Ericlim , @AlanM52 and @NoyadeÂ
🙂 Wooooo its always interesting seeing what people have in their places 🙂 And yeah I reckon the "Dodgy bro's" worked on mine.
With your 20m heavy duty extension cord. This Click 25m 250V 10A Heavy Duty Extension Lead (I think everyone has mentioned a cord 🙂 ) or even a couple of shorter extension cords are what I used for my water blaster, drill, grinder around the yard. The Powerpoint that they are plugged into goes back to the fuse box and that is protected by an ELCB so if there is water anywhere then "cick" it shuts off. Nothing fancier than that. The little coverings that go over the lead heads are a good idea but generally if I have a lead anywhere near water I make sure that teh connection point is raised and protectecd from water.Â
It dosnt harm having extra protection (I have a 4 way ELCB extension board the same as @AlanM52's) and have used that on occasion. It has tripped faster then the house ELCB but they both do the same job.)
Dave
"It has tripped faster then the house ELCB"
Now this is interesting @Dave-1.Â
True story - the names have not been changed.
My middle son - Jake - when five years old - for reasons unknown - cut a lamp cord with surgical scissors. No insulation on the scissors or his hands.
He was lying on carpet.
Double earthed two-core appliance.
I was at work.
Julie rang me and explained the situation. She thanked the circuit breakers for saving his life.
But when I got home I examined the scissors and the main blade had a melted section.
To do that would have taken a second or two?
Yet he was asymptomtic and felt no shock.
My thinking is - he walks the planet today - because he was not earthed? Not due to the circuit breaker?
Thoughts?
Story No 2.
My father was a builder.
On a rural property in the 1970's where he was working one day, he had an Elu saw set up with a long extension cord.
He was working with it when the power stopped.
He looked around and saw the property owner's German Shepherd had bitten clean through the cord.
The dog, unharmed, just walked away.
The wire fuse was intact.
Dad just got out another extension cord and continued on.
He was understandably amazed.
Again, did the dog survive because it was not earthed where it was standing?
Thanks @Dave-1Â
Evening @NoyadeÂ
🙂 ok lets see if we can step through the scenerios.
1-Â
- As your son wasnt touching any earthed object he was extremley lucky (as in lotto ticket lucky) He cut through active AND neautral or earth, it MELTED the blade, would have been sparks galore, blew the fuse. If he had made a better path for the electricity to flow as in touching the sink, something wet or and earthed light then it could have taken a path through the cord, through the scissors and to say the lamp. (I am here even though I shorted a very large capacitor with a screwdriver to "discharge it" when I was an apprentice... My screwdriver is missing a chunk, a large chunk as the metal was the conducter and I was insulated.
2-
- Lucky doggo, not sure how the dog escaped. Maybe the dog was standing on super dry ground? only hit one wire with its teeth so it never arked but seperated the wire? I am surpprised the dog was ok 🙂 glad he was but yet again Id be buying a lotto ticket.
The ELCB trips faster then a fuse, it is designed to detect miniscule amount of voltage difference between active and earth. As soon as it does "click" its off.Â
A Fuse or circuit breaker detects an overload of whatever rating it is. If its a 15A rating then the fuse/CB will work fine until the current heads over the 15A. It does NOT protect you from dropping things into water that are live.Â
Fuse boxes have an ELCB installed in them (Newer ones will definently have something installed.) This protects the power circuits of the house. I do not know the actual rules for the installation as I have not intstalled Fuse boxes 🙂
@JacobZ thanks. Have bought the arlec 15m as recommendedÂ
