JohnMcConnell Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 how to you make a 5amp male - two 5 amp female adaptor? Grelcos aren't available, and I did make a lead with the two wires from the female plugs both being connected to the terminals on the male plug, but it failed the PAT test. So I ask you all, how do I make a splitter?A diagram of somesort would be really useful. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 You can buy ready made Y-cords with IEC connectors (those that go into the back of your PC) with a moulded junction. Cut off the IEC connectors and fit 5A plugs and sockets. IECs are rated at 6A so the cable will be the right rating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Rubber Box Co sell Y leads to put your own connectors on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomLyall Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 nice idea brian anyone know how these things are actually made?I know they seem to have a fancy molded plastic junction but whats on the inside? are they just crimped and insulated with heatshrink (indervidually of course!!) or are they some really fancy bit of extruding :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 5, 2004 Share Posted March 5, 2004 ... but it failed the PAT test.Strange that. All our Y-leads passed their PAT test, and they are home-made in that very manner. Strain relief took some figuring though - I think we ended up using slightly longer screws to hold the strain plate down. Do you know what yours failed on? (Although the W-cable passed as well, and I *know* that thing's got no strain relief) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcConnell Posted March 6, 2004 Author Share Posted March 6, 2004 Strange that. All our Y-leads passed their PAT test, and they are home-made in that very manner. Strain relief took some figuring though - I think we ended up using slightly longer screws to hold the strain plate down. Do you know what yours failed on?not a clue, all I know was that it was there before the holidays, the PAT testers came in, and I came back to school to find 3 splitters with big red fail stickers on them.They had propper strain relief, and it was all wired up propperly, right cable, female plugs were ok, so I figured it must have been the idea of having two leads into one plug? but if yours passed........WAIT TILL I GO TELL THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sguy42 Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Strange that. All our Y-leads passed their PAT test, and they are home-made in that very manner. Strain relief took some figuring though - I think we ended up using slightly longer screws to hold the strain plate down. Do you know what yours failed on?not a clue, all I know was that it was there before the holidays, the PAT testers came in, and I came back to school to find 3 splitters with big red fail stickers on them.They had propper strain relief, and it was all wired up propperly, right cable, female plugs were ok, so I figured it must have been the idea of having two leads into one plug? but if yours passed........WAIT TILL I GO TELL THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT Standard strain reliefs are designed for one cable, using them for more than one takes them outside the design specification. Some people who test consider this a failure, even if all cables are secure. There are of course the 'I've not seen anything like that before so it must be dangerous ' brigade as well. shane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P. Funk Posted March 7, 2004 Share Posted March 7, 2004 our cyc bar is wired up with 9 15 amp plugs like this. the PAT testers dont know about that though :P on second thoughts... what PAT testers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcConnell Posted March 7, 2004 Author Share Posted March 7, 2004 I think thats the solution, ill lock the hall up good and proper and not let them in! Nobody will mind the lanterns and cables having a year off the trauma of the PAT test! They can't fail all my gear this year then. Good plan I think it may well be a case of 'I've not seen anything like that before so it must be dangerous 'as the school electricians wont touch anything to do with the LX rig, not even the 15A permanent install cable and sockets on the walls because they say they aren't trained, but the specialist we have to hire in says he only has the same qualifications as them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcConnell Posted March 7, 2004 Author Share Posted March 7, 2004 before someone wastes me for not obaying H&S, which I know is inevitable after just saying I was going to have a year of PAT tests, it was only a joke, ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Some Bloke Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 The trouble with splitters is that so called "best practice" is not to use them. Grelcos are OK though. I think the trouble is that strain relief problem mentioned above. Only designed for one cable to pass through and therefore too easy to pull one of the cables and it to come towards you, exposing single insulation which is a no no. In our theatre we use Grelcos wherever possible (all 15 amp, ya see), but when we run out we do have a stock of old 15 - double 15 y cables which we always refer to as spl*tters (with a cough in the middle) to avoid trouble! Bian and Jivemaster's ideas would be best as there's no way you could expose single insulation any easier than any other cable. Meanwhile, why don't I come to your place and PAT test your spl*tters? If you're any where near Kent I'd be happy to oblige! JSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 Use a maplin project box fitted with three strain relief cable glands and containing a short length of terminal block Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P. Funk Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 we have a couple of 5 amp grelcos lying around, but can you still get them? our entire school hall rig is 5 amp plugs and sockets (except the cyc bar), so we really could do with some... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomLyall Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 that seems like alot of hassle to me, id be tempted to go with brians suggestion of getting one of those IEC Y cables, you can even get three way ones I think... ah also you might be able to find 5a adaptors listed under the name of pinspot spiders, thats what ours were supplied as, dunno where we got them from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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