extension leads

[Thames Valley Discos]

is there a maximum length you should go to, before a loss in power/voltage. what type cable should be used for this length cable?

[DMX Will]

There is no maximum length (within reason) although the longer distance your going, the thicker the cable you need (to save voltage loss). I was building a 16A cable (2x100m lengths) it worked out it had to be ultra thick (which we couldn't afford, so I think we ended up with about a 3x4mm core cable in royal blue. Nice. (This was for school sports day) I'll dig out the pictures!

[Jiggles]

Well 100" of 3 core 2.5mm cable will drop the voltage to about 200V

[DMX Will]

Search google for the power loss over distance :)

[Danno13]

Theres an easy formula for it that was on my Physics A Level syllabus.. but i'm d amn ed if i can remember it.

Something like R = (resistivity of the conductor x length) / cross sectional area

Although length and area might be the other way round.

I have a 25m reel of cable that can handle 13amps (un wound) and it isn't super thick cable or anything like that.

[A1DL]

is there a maximum length you should go to, before a loss in power/voltage. what type cable should be used for this length cable?

The greater the cable diameter, the less the voltage drop will be, buy HO7 RNF if you can afford it, and use a 30ma RCD

[Thames Valley Discos]

so ideally 4mm cable for a say a 100m run

[A1DL]

so ideally 4mm cable for a say a 100m run

for what current (how many amperes?)

[Thames Valley Discos]

about a 10 amp load

[A1DL]

about a 10 amp load

oh, that's tiny! 2.5m HO7 will be plenty fine over that length, Paul, and will be good for indoor/outdoor use (I assume you'll be fitting 16a ceeforms)

Rather than having one long lead, I would split it down into two or three "manageable" lengths, instead of a reel/drum which would need to be fully unwound each time it is used, have several cables where you only use what you need for the job in question, daisy chaining as required.

All our 4mm is in 20mtr lengths, secured with "handy handles", even those lengths can be quite heavy to gather up at 4.00am in the morning in a cold wet field :sad:

But the real fun ones are the 16mm 63a 3phase HO7 :teeth:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

But the real fun ones are the 16mm 63a 3phase HO7 :teeth:

Yeah, sounds like real fun... :teeth: :beer:

[Thames Valley Discos]

is this cable as good 2.50mm Artic Grade Cable

[BeerFunk]

Yeah, sounds like real fun... :teeth: :beer:
...although possibly *not* a potentially good idea to mix beer and electrics ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

...although possibly *not* a potentially good idea to mix beer and electrics ;)

If I'd have known what they were talking about, then no... :teeth:

[A1DL]

is this cable as good 2.50mm Artic Grade Cable

it will be fine for what you've described Paul, the HO7 is more robust and more flexible at low temperatures, but the arctic grade PVC cable is certainly a "good second best"

[CRAZY K]

Never mind the voltage drop---If you need to take cable over this kind of distance I would think of H and S issues!

I used to do this kind of work many years ago for School Sports Days etc. but that was before the compensation culture had been invented by our friends across the pond :sad:

CRAZY K

[+Scooby+]

Never mind the voltage drop---If you need to take cable over this kind of distance I would think of H and S issues!

I used to do this kind of work many years ago for School Sports Days etc. but that was before the compensation culture had been invented by our friends across the pond :sad:

CRAZY K

You could use a generator through a UPS as insurance. A 2.5k generator at Makro is only a £100.00 and you could sell it afterwards.

[A1DL]

You could use a generator through a UPS as insurance. A 2.5k generator at Makro is only a £100.00 and you could sell it afterwards.

I doubt a £100 genny has AVR, and without it the voltage will be up & down like a whore's drawers, and the UPS will be clicking away like mad, as it smooths the dips & peaks.... until it can take this abuse no longer and die.

Remember a UPS is exactly that, and NOT a substitute for AVR