r/DIYUK • u/blablacar91 • 19h ago
Uk plug high amp
Hi, been looking for a plug with higher amp than 13a (had 2 burnt already), ive made myself an extension for a tumble dryer. I cant seem to find anywhere with above 20 amp plug and socket, any idea? Thanks
12
u/TheVambo 19h ago
The 13a fuse has saved your house from burning down twice. Don't let there be a 3rd.
There is a power draw problem not a fuse rating problem, do not attempt to fix this yourself.
1
5
u/Temporary-Elk-109 18h ago
A home appliance like that will not draw even close to 13A.
If it is drawing more, and to blow a 13A may well be over 20A, means there is a defect in either the appliance or the cable.
Please don't try and remove the protection, get the problem sorted (and avoid an inevitable fire)
-9
u/blablacar91 17h ago
Its less then a year old, brought brand new. Ffs
2
u/GordonLivingstone 17h ago
What power is it rated at?
-1
u/blablacar91 15h ago
Beko dtkce80021w
3
u/GordonLivingstone 13h ago edited 13h ago
I tried looking at the manual. It tells you everything except the power rating - which apparently is "behind the door".
However it does say that it should be plugged into a standard 13A socket with a 13A fuse in the plug.
So, it should be fine on a normal UK socket and ought to work with an extension lead - if that lead is indeed properly made with 13A rated cable, good quality plug (13A fused) and good quality socket. Best practice would however be to plug it straight into the wall socket.
If it is the plug connected to the wall socket that is burning then the most likely cause is that the socket itself is faulty (loose pins or badly terminated fixed wiring) and that is overheating and damaging the plug
If the extension lead plug is overheating but the wall socket is OK then probably the cable is not heavy enough or the wires have not been properly stripped and secured in the plug terminals. The flex cable needs to have 1.5 mm sq conductors.
If the drier was drawing too much current, it should blow the 13A fuse in the plug
So, you don't need a higher rated plug but there must be something wrong with your wiring.
2
2
u/blablacar91 2h ago
On the drier it says 2700w, 11.5 A, 13 A (so should be fine with 13a)
1
u/GordonLivingstone 1h ago
Absolutely. Though it is getting close to the maximum rating for a 13A socket so any poor connections will be put under strain.
Note that the 2700 Watts will be the highest consumption - when the drier is working flat out - so a lot of time it will be taking less current.
1
u/blablacar91 1h ago
Will move it close to a socket and plug it straight into a socket rather then using an extension and will monitor closely, to see if if smokes again will get elctrician to check on it
3
u/Prestigious-Breath-1 19h ago
Is this an Industrial tumble drier? 3000w at 240v shouldn't be any more than 12.5a. If this is a domestic tumble drier there's a possibility there's something wrong with it as they shouldn't really exceed 3kw
-6
u/blablacar91 18h ago
Its a domestic one. Had it for about a year, in this time has burnt one extension that i have brought it from screwfix, one made by me with heavy duty parts and solid leads, and burnt the socket where the extension is plugged in
1
u/Prestigious-Breath-1 16h ago
It sounds quite unsafe!
Was this a second hand purchase or brand new? If its brand new I'd check if it is under warranty and return it, if its second hand I'd be tempted to send it to the scrapyard and find one without these issues.
1
1
u/chriscwjd 16h ago
You need to get this dryer repaired or replaced before it burns your house down, what model is it?
1
u/blablacar91 15h ago
Beko dtkce80021w
1
u/chriscwjd 4h ago
A condensing dryer, should draw something in the region of 11A! Just to clarify you have replaced the plug of the dryer? If you have to use an extension lead it really does need to be decent quality for a tumble dryer..
1
u/blablacar91 3h ago
I havent touched the plug from tumble dryer. So the thumble drier connected to an extension lead thats plugged into a wall socket. The extension plu and the wall socket smoked twice but never together
1
0
u/Ill-Ad-2122 Tradesman 17h ago
Tumble driers burn extension leads for fun, you should really plug it directly into a socket.
1
1
u/Boring-Discussion710 15h ago
Tumble dryer on an extension is a big no-no. Practical answer is either 16 amp industrial socket, round type, or
hard wire it into a fused spur, so no plug or socket but difficult to disconnect
and thirdly and I know the dryer is quite new but if like me you buy a heat pump dryer it will take about 1 or 2 amps instead of 12 amps plus you save money on the bill.
1
u/Affectionate-One-159 5h ago
You will not find a plug rated above 13A. Plugs are intended for "portable appliances" - the maximum power of which is 3kW.
If your drier is above 3kW then it needs to be cabled directly to a circuit breaker in your consumer unit. The cable itself needs to be a heavier gauge, probably 4mm.
Just like things such as immersion heaters and electric showers. You won't find any of those with a plug.
1
u/ClaphamOmnibusDriver 3h ago
Your appliance is faulty and potentially dangerous.
I would stop using it entirely until inspected and repaired by a suitably competent person.
0
u/Regret-Superb 19h ago
16A or 32A commando. Never used one in a domestic property but we use them in commercial and industrial all the time. It will want a dedicated radial Cct though.
0
u/PolyGlotCoder 19h ago
Perhaps wire it into a fused spur where you can get it rated for 20amps, with a 13amp fuse in it.
0
u/vctrmldrw 15h ago
I have an idea. Stop fucking around before you find out.
You sound like you actually want your house to burn down. Get an electrician in.
23
u/programming_unit_1 19h ago
Please get a qualified electrician to help you. UK sockets are 13amps, the fuse ratings exist to protect the wiring in the appliance and the walls of your house.
You can have a 20amp socket but you would need to upgrade the circuit as well, do not attempt to just swap the faceplate.
A tumble dryer is a high draw item, but the vast majority work off a 13amp socket. If you’ve burnt two plugs already something is wrong with your setup. The self-made extension lead would seem an obvious culprit.
Get a professional before you burn your house down.