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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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6th Jan 2021, 2:47 pm | #21 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
That looks like a "Duraplug" power-strip - I recognise the incoming-flex-loop. And yes the live bus-bar-to-fuse clip connection does look to have suffered heating as well as the fuse.
I too don't really trust 'consumer' multi-way power-strips - I've got a couple of professional ones here [Lexor Dis-Boards, or Olson] which are metal-cased, bulky but reliable. They use traditional glass 1.5-inch fuses in decent panel-mount holders, too. |
6th Jan 2021, 4:41 pm | #22 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Weymouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 135
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
I still have several of those durable 4 way sockets mine must be 40 odd years old by now mine lost the shutters over the live parts when they melted after running a 2Kw heater on it along with a big power supply and a light its still going strong but probably wouldn't pass moder health and safety inspection
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6th Jan 2021, 5:00 pm | #23 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,943
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
Quote:
As others have said, the BS1363 plug doesn't cope well with prolonged loads close to the 13A rating. I think plug in electric fires were derated somewhat to allow for this at some stage - 3kW or even 3.5kW heaters were quite common in the 60s and 70s, but are never found today. As a general rule, it's not a good idea to power a high current appliance such as a heater through an extension socket. |
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6th Jan 2021, 5:54 pm | #24 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,869
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
Quote:
I think next time I replace it I'll either fit an MK masterseal socket with a cable gland, or else I bite the bullet and change everything to 16A connectors. David
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6th Jan 2021, 9:02 pm | #25 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 682
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
As most of the plugs these days are made of cheep plastic ,repeatedly plugging and unplugging loosens the fuse contacts. You might get away with a light load but on high power items it will often cause overheating.
Always use a Bakelite plug for high load items making sure the fuse contacts are tight and so are the screws. Andy
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6th Jan 2021, 10:54 pm | #26 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,339
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Re: Do cartridge fuses deteriorate with age?
I did wonder if a reason for circa 2kW appliances becoming common was so that the same product could be sold throughout mainland Europe, where 10A - rated sockets are common (reflecting the "condition hot" 10A appliance connector), higher-rated sockets being less common.
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