Outdoor brewing - electrics question

[Cully]

Yeah right in the middle of the board is a section with RCD written on it and a yellow button above?

[Fil]

How many elements will you be using concurrently at any moment?

In my brewery its 2, So i have 2 x 16A commando sockets added to 2 distinct mains circuits (Kitchen, and garage) and run 2.5mm flex extension leads upto the brewshed for a brewday, using 16a sockets and plugs gives me a little electrical headroom for running lights pumps radio and other low amp devices while the elements are on.

the kitchen socket is indoors so an ip44 socket is fine, the socket on the garage circuit is on the outside of the garage wall so an ip67 socket and plug is used for that..

[Cully]

Fil as far as I can see I will be only using two elements concurrently. I don't plan to have the copper (2 elements) going at the same time as the HLT (The Buffalo). Being in a council house I am restricted to using the indoor sockets, of which I have 4 available near the window where the 'zeebo will be. My Main board looks as if it has an Earth trip bult in, so it looks like I can get away with 2 single socket extensions for the elements and a third 4 gang socket for any small bits and pieces like a temp probe. I plan to cover all sockets with plastic bags while the brewday is on.

[Fil]

if all 4 sockets are in the same room the chances are they are all on the same circuit, just check your main fuse box and check that the fuse/mcb(thing with a switch on it) for that rooms circuit is rated to 32a or higher, if its limited to 16a then even using 2 separate socket points on that circuit may be problematic. also remember that a double socket fitting is generally rated for 13a over both sockets combined so dont plug 2 x element extension leads into the same double socket if you do it could overheat.

[Cully]

OK. The trip switch on both downstairs and upstairs ring says B32 so I'm guessing that its a 32 amp ring? I can run one extension out of the downstairs window and one from the upstairs if I have to. THere is one double socket and 2 single sockets in the front room near the window.

[Fil]

you should be ok using the 2 single sockets for the elements imho, just bear in mind the 32a limit applies to all the devices running concurrently on that circuit,

most electrical goods will have a label indicating the draw probably in watts not amps tho so check this out for the conversion http://www.rapidtables.com/convert/elec ... to-amp.htm

and simply tot up all thats plugged into the circuit to be sure your ok..

I opted to use 2 seperate circuits for the sources of my extension leads as it negates any concerns about the kettle or w/machine being used while im out brewing..

[vacant]

just bear in mind the 32a limit applies to all the devices running concurrently on that circuit,

Yes, other people in the house may switch on kettles and vacuum cleaners while we're brewing. I use the downstairs and cooker circuits for my two elements.

[Cully]

In that case I'l run one from the upstairs ring and one from the downstars. Instead of a probe type thermometer I'll just use a manual one. Cant think I would need anything else plugged in tbh.

[Fil]

scratch the suggestion to use a snaplock box to weatherproof your element plug/sockets above, use these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16a-230v-indu ... 4ab82a9744 to terminate your element extension leads and to plug in your elements - not a bad price imho