Controller amps and elements

[Camo6]

Mr B, the earth pin merely prevents you plugging a higher drawing load into a 10A GPO. An old trick was to file the earth pin of a 15A plug to fit a 10A GPO. Problem being that A) you potentially reduced the contact are of the earth conductor and B ) you would load the circuit with a higher than expected current. The former is potentially fatal, the latter is poor practice. Most caravan owners will have a 15 to 10A adapter for just that purpose.
The circuit protection device is there to limit the load. It's value is determined by the conditions of the circuit it's protecting. In the old days it was all too easy to replace fuse wire with a heavier gauge. With new regulations it's less likely that a circuit isn't properly protected but from what I've seen in my limited time in the industry it still happens.

Edit: damn emoticons

 

[Pokey]

Mmmmm thanks gents.

Noted sparky advice is recommended. Will do this, but would like to get my head around whats going on.

Is it common for a GPO circuit to be 15 amp? Does this indicate that maybe the wrong breakers have been put on? Does the sparky select the appropriate breakers depending on the cabling diameter and install route? Or is it normal for 20a breakers to be put on 10a circuits? Seems like a lot of headroom?

When they do the panel, they certify that it is good and to spec. Does safe utilization rely on people only using common goods which are 10a?

Do all goods which draw more than 10a have a large earth pin (or a 3 phase plug if they are this?) - so that the gpo outlet effectively controls the draw?

Arr, nothings simple. Just looking to understand, not to do any work myself. I value my skin too much

It's common for multiple 10 amp outlets to be supplied from 1 breaker, the wiring supplying the outlets will commonly be rated to 20 amps. The circuit protection is rated for the fixed wiring not the plugged in wiring or device.
Current drawn by the device is not limited until the circuit protection is tripped. I've seen lots of 15 amp earth pins cut down to fit 10 amp outlets.

 

[rockeye84]

If you have 3 phase available at your place you could have a phase dedicated to your brewery, as I did.

Phase1: electric hot water sys + A/C, kitchen/house circuit

phase 2: electric hot plates + stove, bedroom/laundry

Phase 3: brewery + shed circuit

Had the brewery + dryer + oven + heater going today, yet to pop a main fuse on one of the phases, the wheel on my meter likely came close to breaking the sound barrier tho.

Picked the plug & socket up for $100 second hand, sparkys charged me $300 to install it and re-jig my circuits.

Well worth the investment & beats worrying about what other appliances on or off when your trying to brew..

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Stu, my cables come straight up from under a slab through two feet of conduit to a double gpo. I did my math. I had seasoned sparkies confirm it. They were originally 15 amp circuits supplying a caravan, I merely restored them to their original purpose after a switchboard upgrade some years prior.

It surprising what you can do if you decide to change the nature of a pair if wires

 

[Mr B]

Thanks gents.

Think that I will:

Determine circuit layout
Consider fitting RCD breakers in the control box so that I could safely use it anywhere
Continue to source suitable parts

Cheers

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

RCD breakers in the box is not a bad idea. Breakers are only about $10-15

They will act as the primary switch and they are quick and easy flick off in case **** goes down.