[swanson]

Just bought a 3600watt gutter vac from GVS nice piece of kit
my question is do i need a 3600 watt extension cable to run it.It has a 13 amp fuse plug
Many thanks

[Ched]

Just bought a 3600watt gutter vac from GVS nice piece of kit
my question is do i need a 3600 watt extension cable to run it.It has a 13 amp fuse plug
Many thanks

I will bet the 3600 watt rating is a 'nominal' (exaggerated) power rating.

UK has a nominal mains voltage of 230v. So times 230v by 13 amps = 2990watts!!! So in theory a 13 amp fuse will only allow just under 3000 watts continuously.  OK so a 13 amp fuse will allow a surge on startup higher than 13 amps but always best not to start all 3 motors at once.

A good quality UNREELED 13 amp extension cable should be fine. Ideally 2.5mm cross section cable if you are going over 15 meters but that cable is difficult to fit in a 13 amp plug. So try and get thickest conductors possible, it's the copper that is expensive not the plastic coating. If you can only get 1.5mm then ideally don't go over 15m. You can probably go a bit longer as the extension will probably used outdoors in cooler weather.
NEVER use an extension cable still reeled up as the magnetic fields and lack of air flow may lead to a fire!!!
Hope that helps?

[wayne 77]

Make sure you unreel mine trips all the time and have to reset
Am looking for a new reel as we speak
ANY SUGGESTIONS it real is annoying

[swanson]

Thanks Ched
Really helpful

[Ched]

Just had a quick look round and this company do 2.5mm 25m extension leads although they are not on a reel!
https://www.industrialextensionleads.co.uk/25m-double-socket-heavy-duty-13amp-25mm-cable-extension-lead-10587-p.asp
About £40 + vat. Plus £5 delivery.
I haven't used the company so no idea on their customer service but it gives you an idea.

Alternatively you could make one your self as Screwfix sell 25 meter of 2.5mm cable for £24 inc vat
'TIME 3183Y WHITE 3-CORE 2.5MM² FLEXIBLE CABLE 25M DRUM (896JY)'
Then a rubber plug and socket.
Maybe even put a mains plug on one end and 16amp socket on the other and change vac to 16amp plug as they are more water resistant, not completely but better that standard 13 amp ones. That might limit what you can use it for though.
Obviously only make your own if you are confident you know what you are doing.  If a connection is loose then that can heat up causing a fire, if strands are not in the connections you increase resistance (generate heat) and could cause a short.
Anyway gives you options.

[wayne 77]

Just had a quick look round and this company do 2.5mm 25m extension leads although they are not on a reel!
https://www.industrialextensionleads.co.uk/25m-double-socket-heavy-duty-13amp-25mm-cable-extension-lead-10587-p.asp
About £40 + vat. Plus £5 delivery.
I haven't used the company so no idea on their customer service but it gives you an idea.

Alternatively you could make one your self as Screwfix sell 25 meter of 2.5mm cable for £24 inc vat
'TIME 3183Y WHITE 3-CORE 2.5MM² FLEXIBLE CABLE 25M DRUM (896JY)'
Then a rubber plug and socket.
Maybe even put a mains plug on one end and 16amp socket on the other and change vac to 16amp plug as they are more water resistant, not completely but better that standard 13 amp ones. That might limit what you can use it for though.
Obviously only make your own if you are confident you know what you are doing.  If a connection is loose then that can heat up causing a fire, if strands are not in the connections you increase resistance (generate heat) and could cause a short.
Anyway gives you options.

Thanks for the advice
I will go to Screwfix

[Oban pidgeon]

Just bought a 3600watt gutter vac from GVS nice piece of kit
my question is do i need a 3600 watt extension cable to run it.It has a 13 amp fuse plug
Many thanks

A 13amp fuse fuse on 230v can only handle a maximum draw of 2990 Watts so you know that power rating is crap, which means means your safe to use a standard 13 amp extension lead. Just make sure you unwind it full to stop it getting hot(this will either trip it or blow the fuse)

[Spruce]

We used to run 2 of the 3 motors if the power cable was a little suspect.

[lee_dewing]

Gvs sell an extension lead for the 3600 watt
Model on their website.

[lee_dewing]

If I ever upgraded from my Atom.

I would go for a gvs 3000 watt vac

With the side cyclonic entry it’s already more powerful than almost any vac in its class

That’s the problem when using customers electric

3000 to 3600 watts is really generator time
I think 🤔

Good luck 👍

[the king]

i thault you couldent use a house socket to power anything over 3000w !

[Ched]

i thault you couldent use a house socket to power anything over 3000w !

Technically you are correct. UK supply voltage is 230v nominal. So 230 X 13 amps = 2990 watts. For short duration a 13 amp fuse will allow way way more than 13 amps to flow. I remember testing them years ago and getting close to 30 amps for a second or so!!

I would bet the vac sellers are a little over optimistic in their power ratings on the motors. My personal view is they are more likely to be 3 x 1000 watt motors.