Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Have to look into different electricity supply when I pulled the plugs today the points were so hot couldn't touch them

Aussiedownunder01 wrote:Have to look into different electricity supply when I pulled the plugs today the points were so hot couldn't touch them

I've had that too, was on a bunnings 15amp extension lead. Actually burnt the female plug side. Don't know what the solution is but if you figure it out let us know :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Aussiedownunder01 wrote:Have to look into different electricity supply when I pulled the plugs today the points were so hot couldn't touch them

Do the pins on the plug look tarnished much? or nice, bright & shiny?

Might have to go 3 phase lol :laughing-rolling:

Psykamaholik wrote:

Aussiedownunder01 wrote:Have to look into different electricity supply when I pulled the plugs today the points were so hot couldn't touch them

Do the pins on the plug look tarnished much? or nice, bright & shiny?

The pins still look shiny the other plug [I run 2 elements i fixed it by slightly bending the pins to make better contact
A mates one 15 amp burnt out where the wire is screwed to the plug
I am looking at changing the power points to 15 amp also to make better contact solder the wire ends before screwing into the plug

Aussiedownunder01 wrote:solder the wire ends before screwing into the plug

NO! :violence-smack: This will make it worse & it's against wiring rules.

You can't just change the outlet to a 15A one either, they must be on a dedicated circuit with only the one outlet on it, appropriate cable and circuit breaker. Job for an electrician.

It may be possible the screw has come loose in the power point terminal, these things can happen over time. Get an electrician to check it, the contacts inside the outlet where the pins make contact may have tarnished/deteriorated too.

Again, get an electrician to look at it.

Im not a sparky but im not sure soldering/tinning the wires before clamping them will make a better contact.

The oxides from solder are probably aren't as electrically conductive as copper oxides.

Not to mention the point contact of the hard solder blob over the multiple wires in the core.

[Edit]
Beat me to it.

Mine get too hot to touch too. Not sure if there is a solution when you're running so hard for so long.

Also not a sparky, but I was told a good rule of thumb is that when it gets hot, the cable/plug can't handle (is not rated) for the electricity going thru it...

So you can get heavier cable and plugs that are rated much re suitable, but then the GPO can become a problem!

I've referred everything to a sparky because I'm too church corn to answer the questions after my house burns down! Especially the ones that cancell your insurance!

Thanks for the replys was looking for the easy way out
So heres the plan
Photo of switch board in shed [ 3 meters away from still]
2spare spots on it so 2 new breakers and 2 = 15 amp power points under

Never solder multi stranded cables before putting into a screw connector as this will reduce the surface area of the cable in contact with the clamping faces and increase in heat.

20A outlets and plugs are available allowing the use of 2.5mm cables instead of 1.5mm in a normal extension cord

Note: 15A outlets only have a larger earth pin (larger fault current) the active and neutral pins are the same size as a 10A. 20A plugs have 3 larger pins more surface area higher current less heat.

Hey Aussi
Is that a mains board or a sub board. Causes if it is a sub board that is a very large 80a switch.
Anyway while you have the eleci around to put in new power points get him to change all of them to RCBO's. makes for a bit more safety at not much cost.
My 2 cents.

Thanks will ask him

Some of the Bunnings so called 15 amp extension cords are only 1.5mm core. I would stay well clear of them and get 2.5mm. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

What is the voltage in your house it can be over voltage 260 volts and at t what voltage are the heating elements rated a 3600 element at 220 volts will be over 15 amps nearly 18 amps and if the element also may be over powered say 10% taking it up to 20 amps.

wynnum1 wrote:What is the voltage in your house

I have no idea. But this happened to my outlet after a long run


So I got this.

No more problems

Cheers Phil

I found useing more than about 2000wt from a standard 10amp for a long period always seemed ta make cord and or plugs and fuse blocks hot or trip off,So I got two 3600wt elements and had them wired up so that only 1/2 of the element was active giveing an output of 1800wt each,for a total of 3600wt with both on.This has been a solution for me as everything is now runing cool.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

How is this achieved? hilzabilly to get this done what do I ask for?

Got the idear from viewtopic.php?f=60&t=9351 ,did not bother with the switchs ,the elements are actually two wired together ,thats the little plates joining them,my electrician removed the plates and connected to only one element only and earthed to the standard point on the Fsd guards,wich is a change that is also easily reversable.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Hillz, you thinking of changing this in the future or is this the end of your needs?

I recall chatting to Warra about your type of setup in order to use one, toe, three or four elements via a controller... I liked the idea, but have no use for that kind of separation at this stage, but who knows what the future holds!?!?

Don't know enough as yet about this hobby to warrant the additional outlay; but I am curious.