Power & Electrical Requirements
Every bouncy castle and inflatable we hire needs a standard 13-amp plug socket within 50 metres of where it's set up, for the whole of the hire. The blower runs the whole time to keep it up. We bring the outdoor extension leads, but we don't supply generators.
Our blowers are Gibbons FP5005 fans, rated at 1.1kW (1.5hp). The maker gives a maximum running current of 7.3 amps on a normal 230V supply, which is about 1.7kW at most – less than a typical kettle, but the blower runs for the whole hire. There's more in our post on whether bouncy castles need electricity.
What kind of socket do I need?
A normal 13-amp mains socket, in good working order and free for the whole hire. Try not to share it with anything that draws a lot of power, like a kettle, an urn or a heater, as that can trip the circuit. Our speakers, disco lights and fun food machines need a socket too – none of them run on batteries.
How far can the socket be?
Up to 50 metres from the setup area. Over a longer run, the blower doesn't get enough power and won't work as well. If your nearest socket is close to that limit, tell us before the day so we can plan the route.
Running power out to a lawn can take some working out. At a wedding at Stratford Park Hotel and Golf Club, the adult castle went on the lawn just outside the main building, and getting the lead out to it was the fiddly part of the set-up.
Do you bring extension leads?
Yes. We bring outdoor-rated extension leads for every inflatable and powered item. They're fully unwound, and we run them where they won't trip anyone up. If a lead has to cross a footpath, doorway or busy walkway, it needs a cover over it, so let us know in advance if that's likely.
What if there's no power?
We don't supply generators. If your inflatable will be 50 metres or more from a socket, you'd need to hire one yourself. These are the fans we use, with the data for powering them, which you can pass on to the generator company.
Halls and events
At a hall or organised event, check where the sockets are before you book, that they'll be switched on and unlocked when we arrive, and that the venue is happy for leads and lead covers to be used. Some venues want power use approved in advance – our access routes page covers getting the equipment in.
Every item we bring is PAT tested every six months – I do the testing myself.
If suitable power isn't available on the day and this wasn't discussed in advance, we may not be able to set up, and our normal cancellation terms may apply.