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Old 29th Jan 2019, 9:35 pm   #21
evingar
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

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Originally Posted by Lancs Lad View Post

I mean, they wouldn't be on sale if they weren't reasonably safe, would they?

Hmmm.


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Old 29th Jan 2019, 9:48 pm   #22
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

My daughter has a number of these around the house, when they fail to work, capacitors dried up etc it will cost a lot more money to have them replaced than even the most expensive external phone chargers.
They will need to have an electrician call and fit them, cannot do it themselves, also bin a perfectly good pair of 13amp sockets in the unit.
But they look neat.
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Old 29th Jan 2019, 10:06 pm   #23
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

There are plug-through 13A USB adaptors available from Masterplug, I bought a couple from Tesco when they were clearing the black ones for just £3.50 a while back, for some reason the white ones stayed at about a tenner. Can't believe that the colour has such influence on sales but who knows what gives in the retail world!

https://www.masterplug.com/uk/high-g...surge-adaptors

Apart from the safety and failure possibilities of socket outlets with USB, the cynic in me sees an arms race developing in the smart-device-to-manufacturer's-supplied-adaptor-handshake-restriction scene.
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Old 29th Jan 2019, 10:53 pm   #24
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

I am nit-picking, but:

..The other slight bug with changing 13A sockets is that ring-main cable is quite rigid and it's desirable to flex it as infrequently as possible (copper work hardens) The copper is also slightly deformed as the terminal screws are tightened, and although you can nip the end off prior to refitting a new socket, you are left with less free cable to play with.

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Old 29th Jan 2019, 11:42 pm   #25
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

That's true, Dave, but, I'm sorry, what are you saying exactly?

It's not immediately clear what you are saying.

Probably just me being a bit thick! It might not be necessary to trim the cable ends at all, surely.
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Old 29th Jan 2019, 11:53 pm   #26
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Ignore me, Dave! I wasn't being rude! I just read your post wrong and responded unthinkingly and facetiously. So sorry! It's been a long day and I should be in bed!
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 12:18 am   #27
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Offence not taken guv, 'course not!
It may not be needed to trim the ends, i am just over conscious of arcing generated at the point of poor connections and hence a fusspot where the copper has been crushed.

I have been trying to purge an airlock from a shower pump yesterday and today....purely electrical problems seem so much easier to deal with!

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Old 30th Jan 2019, 12:24 am   #28
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Thanks, Dave!

Really sorry if I came across in any way wrong! No offence meant at all

I'm just really tired! Or 'jiggered' as we say here in Lancashire!

And, yes, I understand what you mean! I'm a fuss pot perfectionist aswell! You should see how perfectly all my plugs are wired!
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Last edited by Lancs Lad; 30th Jan 2019 at 12:36 am.
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 12:42 am   #29
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

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Originally Posted by rambo1152 View Post

Every BS1363 plug has to have a suitably rated fuse that the user can access.

For some reason, wall-warts are exempted, and we have to put our trust in the manufacturer to do the right thing internally.
Presumably because the fuse in a plug is there to protect the lead to the appliance, not the appliance itself. If there's no lead, there's no requirement for a plug fuse.

If the appliance itself needs protection, it should have its own means for it, whether it connects to the plug via a lead or directly. Hopefully something better than just a thin bit of PCB track!

I've got a couple of USB equipped double sockets in surface boxes- so far so good. They're unlikely to set fire to anything if they do go pop and replacement costs would be just for a new socket.
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 1:10 am   #30
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

BG ain't that bad, nothing can be any worse than Wickes own brand sockets.
We have a double in the living room primarily for charging vaping machines and the occasional mobile contraption.
It has been operating for under a year with fairly havy loading without any problems.
One is likely to be fitted in the workshop in the near future, fixing radios is so stressful, I need a nicotine fix!
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 8:10 am   #31
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

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Originally Posted by Lancs Lad View Post
Oh, sod it! I'm going to fit the socket tomorrow when it's daylight and see what happens. It's a surface mounted box, not a flush metal one, so at least it won't set fire to the cavity inside the wall!

I mean, they wouldn't be on sale if they weren't reasonably safe, would they?

Many thanks for all your informed thoughts

It's a bit like deadly aspartame sweetener. I was told it'd be horribly bad for me but then I consider the millions of litres drunk each day and how much I see in any press release about death and illness caused by aspartame. Thus I sleep safely.
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 10:41 am   #32
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

So, is it risky to leave a wall wart charger plugged in when it's not actually charging a phone?

For years I have been berating my friends and relatives when I see unconnected chargers plugged in and switched on in their homes. It just doesn't seem to occur to them that these little innocuous-looking plugs are still full of electricity and buzzing away quietly to themselves!

It's a losing battle, I find....
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 11:46 am   #33
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Lancs lad
Quote:
these little innocuous-looking plugs are still full of electricity and buzzing away quietly to themselves!
Possible also causing interference to MW/LW AM radio.
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 12:23 pm   #34
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

I have one of the feed through things (4 USB outs), because it has an earth pin I have earthed the USB out. I feel safer than using a dodgy "almost double insulated" job.
 
Old 30th Jan 2019, 12:54 pm   #35
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

How do you earth the USB out, Merlin, please?

I've no idea how to do that!
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 1:16 pm   #36
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Peter, you're not the only one, they are usually earthed through a computer but not a power pack.
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 3:23 pm   #37
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

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How do you earth the USB out, Merlin, please?
Dismantle the thing and solder a wire from the earth pin to the USB out shell and negative (they are usually linked so the shell will do).
 
Old 30th Jan 2019, 5:12 pm   #38
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

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Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
Quote:
How do you earth the USB out, Merlin, please?
Dismantle the thing and solder a wire from the earth pin to the USB out shell and negative (they are usually linked so the shell will do).

Might be a pain for some that have glued cases or welded plastic
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Old 30th Jan 2019, 7:15 pm   #39
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

The USB ports are earthed on desktop computers but not on wall warts or laptops.
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Old 31st Jan 2019, 12:00 am   #40
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Default Re: 13 amp sockets with USB?

Four posts discussing an OT aside deleted
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