3 ms·

Fuses in plugs in Britain are either 3A or 13A, by regulation. 5A used to be another value, but is no longer used (though replacement 5A fuses are easily availa

Fuses in plugs in Britain are either 3A or 13A, by regulation. 5A used to be another value, but is no longer used (though replacement 5A fuses are easily available.) I've never seen 7A or 10A fuses, and I was the kind of boy to rummage through my grandparent's workshops. ..

leoedin 3y ago
I've had 10A fused cables before - IEC leads are pretty common. https://www.cablewarehouse.co.uk/10a-uk-plug-to-iec-c13-mains-lead-blue https://www.cablewarehouse.co.uk/10a-uk-plug-to-iec-c13-main... for example.
azalemeth 3y ago
They are available in the sizes I mentioned, plus 2A – https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1683350.pdf https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1683350.pdf – and your comment made me actually look up the regulation out of curiosity as I know I have seen some of those other sizes in the lab! The wiring regs are enforced in statute by The Plugs and Sockets (Etc) Statutory Instrument 1994 [1] which mandates the compliance of two British standards, BS 1362 and BS 1363 for fuses and plugs respectively. The exact wording of BS 1363 (at least the version of it I can access) is > [...] all rewirable plugs shall be marked on the engagement surface with the rated current. All non-rewirable plugs shall be marked with the rated current of the fuse link fitted, which shall not exceed the value given in Table 2 for the appropriate size of flexible cord Table 2 itself prescribes a maximum fuse rating of 3 A or "(5 A)" [see below] for a conductor cross-sectional area of 0.5 mm^2, and 13 A for all larger conductor areas (0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 mm^2). It is entitled "Rated current and maximum fuse rating in normal use, and load for flexing and cord grip tests related to size of flexible cord" > [...] The figure in brackets indicates the fuse rating when a non rewirable plug is used with certain types of equipment where the use of a 5 A fuse link is necessary because of the high instantaneous inrush current So there we go, I think – we're all sort of right. Thanks for sending me down this rabbit hole! [1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1768/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1768/made

leoedin 3y ago

I've had 10A fused cables before - IEC leads are pretty common. https://www.cablewarehouse.co.uk/10a-uk-plug-to-iec-c13-mains-lead-blue https://www.cablewarehouse.co.uk/10a-uk-plug-to-iec-c13-main... for example.

azalemeth 3y ago

They are available in the sizes I mentioned, plus 2A – https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1683350.pdf https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1683350.pdf – and your comment made me actually look up the regulation out of curiosity as I know I have seen some of those other sizes in the lab! The wiring regs are enforced in statute by The Plugs and Sockets (Etc) Statutory Instrument 1994 [1] which mandates the compliance of two British standards, BS 1362 and BS 1363 for fuses and plugs respectively. The exact wording of BS 1363 (at least the version of it I can access) is > [...] all rewirable plugs shall be marked on the engagement surface with the rated current. All non-rewirable plugs shall be marked with the rated current of the fuse link fitted, which shall not exceed the value given in Table 2 for the appropriate size of flexible cord Table 2 itself prescribes a maximum fuse rating of 3 A or "(5 A)" [see below] for a conductor cross-sectional area of 0.5 mm^2, and 13 A for all larger conductor areas (0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 mm^2). It is entitled "Rated current and maximum fuse rating in normal use, and load for flexing and cord grip tests related to size of flexible cord" > [...] The figure in brackets indicates the fuse rating when a non rewirable plug is used with certain types of equipment where the use of a 5 A fuse link is necessary because of the high instantaneous inrush current So there we go, I think – we're all sort of right. Thanks for sending me down this rabbit hole! [1] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1768/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/1768/made