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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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fused British mains plugs
I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a
styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email. |
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fused British mains plugs
Franc Zabkar wrote in
: I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? Usually those kind of products have an internal cut-out feature. In addition, they should be certified to EU standards (have the 'CE' mark on them) and they are usually double-insulated. British plugs are legally required to conform to British Standard BS1363A which is why they are fitted with a fused plug. Australia has a more relaxed, 'let 'em fry' attitude towards domestic electrical safety. |
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fused British mains plugs
In article , Nigel
writes Franc Zabkar wrote in : I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? Usually those kind of products have an internal cut-out feature. In addition, they should be certified to EU standards (have the 'CE' mark on them) and they are usually double-insulated. British plugs are legally required to conform to British Standard BS1363A which is why they are fitted with a fused plug. Australia has a more relaxed, 'let 'em fry' attitude towards domestic electrical safety. The fuse in the plug is there only to protect the cable (i.e. if you nick the cable and short it out, the plug fuse will blow before the cable melts and catches fire). So the fuse in the plug is rated to match the cable, if the appliance has 3 amp rated cable, the plug fuse would be 3 amp. If the appliance itself requires protection this would be fitted internally. -- Tim Mitchell |
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fused British mains plugs
On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:50:48 +0000, Tim Mitchell
put finger to keyboard and composed: In article , Nigel writes Franc Zabkar wrote in m: I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? Usually those kind of products have an internal cut-out feature. In addition, they should be certified to EU standards (have the 'CE' mark on them) and they are usually double-insulated. British plugs are legally required to conform to British Standard BS1363A which is why they are fitted with a fused plug. Australia has a more relaxed, 'let 'em fry' attitude towards domestic electrical safety. The fuse in the plug is there only to protect the cable (i.e. if you nick the cable and short it out, the plug fuse will blow before the cable melts and catches fire). So the fuse in the plug is rated to match the cable, if the appliance has 3 amp rated cable, the plug fuse would be 3 amp. If the appliance itself requires protection this would be fitted internally. Thanks to both for your help. About ten years ago I worked in Singapore where the same type of plug is used. IIRC, some appliances had a fused version of this plug, while others did not, so the purpose of the fuse is somewhat confusing, at least in Singapore. - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email. |
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fused British mains plugs
Franc Zabkar writes:
I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? The UK used to at least, provide ring wiring - the conductors went in a loop: breaker panel - outlet #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - breaker panel. That way there were 2 parallel conductors back to the panel. They were fused at ?30A? typically. That's 7200 watts vs the US's 2400. Hence it made sense to protect the appliance itself. -- A host is a host from coast to & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433 |
#6
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fused British mains plugs
Looks as though you would be better off using an adaptor from British plus
to Australian plug. Almost certainly not fused elsewhere - hence the fused plug. You can get a three way socket set for British 13 Amp plugs. you could then put an Australian plug on its lead and retain the existing fused plugs on your appliances. Regards Roy " wrote in message ... Franc Zabkar writes: I have been asked to fit Australian mains plugs to a hair drier and a styling wand, both made for the British market. One has a 3A fused plug, the other a 5A. As we don't use fused plugs in Australia, I'm hoping that the drier and wand are internally fused. Unfortunately neither unit is designed to be opened, so I was hoping that someone from the UK could explain the British safety standards to me. Would both devices use a thermal fuse, as they appear to do in Australia? If so, then why the extra fuse in the plug? The UK used to at least, provide ring wiring - the conductors went in a loop: breaker panel - outlet #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - breaker panel. That way there were 2 parallel conductors back to the panel. They were fused at ?30A? typically. That's 7200 watts vs the US's 2400. Hence it made sense to protect the appliance itself. -- A host is a host from coast to & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433 |
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