On Monday, 20 August 2018 15:13:34 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Terry Casey wrote:
Aren't all flexes fitted to a 13 amp plug meant to be able to blow even a
13 amp fuse in event of a short? But not necessarily handle the full 13
amps long term?

No, no, no, no ,no!

The sole purpose of the fuse in the plug is to protect the
flexible cable connected to it and should, therefore, be rated
accordingly.

If you fit a 13A fuse to a plug fitted with flex rated at 3A
and another idiot connects the other end to a 3kW load, what
do you think might happen?

But have you seen anything these days with a 13 amp plug where the flex
would suffer damage with a 13 amp fuse and short circuit?

The point is that IEC is the connector not the cable.
The fuse is there to protect the cable.
Which is one reason we shouldn't replace the fuse without the lead being 'tested' but because it's managment making the rules they haven't a clue what is required they get a company in to decide for them which they think will make them blameless if an accident should accure.

You certainly used to. Rather like two core IEC leads. But not now.

We still have those figure 8 cables in use, I'd be very suprised if I found one with a 13amp fuse in the plug if I did I'd replace the fuse with a 5amp.


I hope you knpw where the nearest fire exot is and, of course,
that the overheated cable isn't between you and it ...

Difference between a flex being capable of blowing a fuse

flexes aren't meant to blow fuses.

in event of a
short and handling 13 amps continuously without overheating.

but if some idiot has put a 13amp fuse in an IEC lead that is only rated at 5amps then perhaps the flex will get how and perhaps catch fire long before teh fuse blows.