Help Needed With Wiring

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:25 am

Hi,

Silly question but can i put a 13amp plug on a 3kw heater?

Cheers Andy

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:25 am

blackpoolgary · Post by **blackpoolgary** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:52 am

your heater 3000 watts
your plug is rated at 13 amp
your main is 240 volts

a little help ! if you x voltage by the amps it will give you the max wattage that the plug can take before the fuse will blow i.e 240 x 13 = 3120 watts or 3.12 kw
or for a better reading dived the wattage by the voltage to give you the max amps i.e 3000 divide 240 = 12.5 amps.

this rule applies to all electrical appliance's

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:04 pm

Some good info guy but are we on 240 or 230 Volt

blackpoolgary · Post by **blackpoolgary** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:48 pm

I've tested my mains and i got 243 volts so im on 240

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:11 pm

Cheers Guys!

Bob Hart · Post by **Bob Hart** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:18 pm

230 + or - 6%, or is it -6% and +10% - I forget I'm getting old now!!!!

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:54 pm

Hi All,

Got the heater wired up today-the electricity meter should be spinning now! Just wanted to check that its normal for the plug to be a bit warm-i know its drawing a lot of current but wasnt sure if it should be getting hot?

Regards Andy

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:21 pm

Hi Andy,

What type of plug did you but as some of the cheap ones are exactly that CHEAP and do get hot and also melt when a big load is on them to long

Its best to buy a good make when putting a full load on them which is normally something like MK

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:23 pm

Hi Gazza,

I went out and bought a MK plug specially for it (Well stole one from my mates work)

Do you think it will be ok?

Cheers Andy

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:26 pm

If its good quality or a well know name you should be OK and at the moment its probably going full on and once it settles down it will be OK.

I have seen some cheap plugs actually melt down big time before

emmaandaj · Post by **emmaandaj** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:43 pm

Cheers Gazza,

Hopefully once the temp rises it might not have to work so hard! Will keep an eye on it

Cheers andy