r/DIYUK • u/blablacar91 • 1d 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

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u/Temporary-Elk-109 1d 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 1d ago

Its less then a year old, brought brand new. Ffs

2

u/GordonLivingstone 1d ago

What power is it rated at?

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u/blablacar91 1d ago

Beko dtkce80021w

3

u/GordonLivingstone 1d ago edited 1d 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

u/blablacar91 1d ago

Thanks for this, very useful.

2

u/blablacar91 17h ago

On the drier it says 2700w, 11.5 A, 13 A (so should be fine with 13a)

1

u/GordonLivingstone 15h 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.

2

u/blablacar91 15h 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