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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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13th Oct 2015, 8:29 pm | #181 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Hi,
There is quite an in depth thread here which cover quite a bit of information about Dorman & Smith 13 Amp plugs in a few of the later posts. Post #19 is very informative on a number of plug and socket manufacturers. Regards Andrew |
13th Oct 2015, 11:55 pm | #182 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 3,601
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Middle picture shows plugs of the type installed on the Coppice Estate Bromley in the late '40s.
Peter |
14th Oct 2015, 10:07 am | #183 |
Dekatron
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Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.)
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Hi,
Some pics of MK fused round pin plugs; 2,5,& 15amps. Each has a space for a spare BS646 fuse on the left hand side. Cheers, Pete.
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14th Oct 2015, 6:16 pm | #184 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 3,051
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
What a sensible idea!
Goes a long way to ensuring the correctly rated fuse is used for replacement (at least the first time). |
14th Oct 2015, 7:47 pm | #185 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
I installed huge numbers of those fused 15 amp plugs when working in a department store.
Large multi lamp fluorescent lights had been installed connected by unfused 15 amp plugs to the fixed wiring. After a few minor ballast fires, the instruction was given to replace all the 15 amp plugs with fused ones containing 3 amp fuses. Failing ballasts still caught fire because the current drawn by a faulty ballast was insufficient to blow a 3 amp fuse. |
15th Oct 2015, 5:10 pm | #186 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,117
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
I didn't know unfused 13A BS1363-style plugs existed. They must be out-of-spec., surely?
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15th Oct 2015, 5:43 pm | #187 |
Dekatron
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Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
They are. As far as I know, they only exist on particularly nasty plug in flexes supplied with cheap power supplies or other tat. They don't conform to any flavour of 1363 whatsoever.
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15th Oct 2015, 5:56 pm | #188 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Quote:
I have however seen some good quality UNFUSED 13 amp plugs used under competent supervision in the NHS. They are sometimes used for portable X ray machines, intended that a patient may be X rayed in any ward equipped with standard outlets. Use of such a plug considerably overloads the socket, but this is considered acceptable for this specialist application, remembering that the overload is very brief whilst the X ray exposure is made. Indeed the overload is so brief that a 13 amp plug fuse MIGHT survive, but not reliably or repeatedly. These "X ray plugs" are safe for very short term use under skilled control, IIRC they are specially manufactured for the NHS by a reputable company and are not to be compared with the Chinese rubbish noted above. |
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15th Oct 2015, 6:13 pm | #189 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
An unfused 13A-type plug, fitted to cable that would carry 13A and then plugged into one of those 4-way splitter boards fitted with a 13A fuse (which protects the sockets on that board) should be safe. On the other hand the potential for misuse is so great (you might forget and plug it directly into the wall) that I am glad such things are not approved..
I read that at one time there were solid metal links 1" long by 1/4" diameter to put in the fuseholders of plugs on portable Xray sets (due to the high pulse current drawn by such devices as you say). Needless to say those would be lethal in the wrong hands too... |
15th Oct 2015, 8:41 pm | #190 | |
Dekatron
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Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Quote:
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15th Oct 2015, 10:11 pm | #191 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
When I tortured that Chinese fuse-less fire cracker had such thin wire in it that it got quite hot and I worked out that it was dissipating about 30W during the test.
That was just one conductor so that would double if it were used. It was marked 10 amps |
15th Oct 2015, 11:32 pm | #192 |
Dekatron
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Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
I’ve been out in the workshop and found some new boxes of old plugs, bought years ago and never used.
Note the picture of one of the plugs from the box of four RS plugs (that I’ll have to show in the next post after this one), that’s never been touched or opened since new in the 70s. The fuse ends have gone completely black, as has been mentioned as regards these plugs in a post earlier. Also a later black RS plug that’s been used, but the fuse contamination is certainly nowhere near as bad. |
15th Oct 2015, 11:35 pm | #193 |
Dekatron
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Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
RS plugs - 'black' fuse ends:-
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16th Oct 2015, 12:17 am | #194 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
That is a good example of the black fuse end problem.
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16th Oct 2015, 11:06 pm | #195 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Found this in the garage the other day, I think dad bought it from Woolworths in the 70's, the red tab in the lid says 3a, seem to recall they did one with a brown tab that was 13a. The lid of the plug had to be thread through the flex first before attaching the plug, mind you many were cut through.
Also a shaver adaptor, a few years old, no sleeves on the pins, still in use today, think it's a Marbo brand. |
17th Oct 2015, 11:02 am | #196 |
Dekatron
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Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Many of those plugs were cut through the entry on account of people forgetting to thread the cable through first and not wanting to take the plug off again or sometimes because there wasn't time - that's my excuse anyway. I still have one or two extension leads fitted with those plugs.
Peter |
17th Oct 2015, 1:28 pm | #197 |
Dekatron
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Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
I know that sinking feeling very well
Now think of an early Cannon 37D with a non split backshell.......
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17th Oct 2015, 10:05 pm | #198 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Apologies if this has been posted already, found this on an old extension lead, pretty obvious of it's initial origin, Mk brand.
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17th Oct 2015, 10:36 pm | #199 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
I have got several of those MK plugs with the flipper type cord grip.
They are quite common. |
17th Oct 2015, 11:17 pm | #200 |
Dekatron
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Location: Surrey, UK.
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Re: 13A Plugs old and not so old
Amongst the types that I prefer, and available with the logos of quite a few well-known institutions! The wrap-round terminals and the flipper-grip that tightens as the lead is stressed are good features- yet another example of a connector that leaves you thinking, why weren't more of them like this? They are quite brittle, though- it's rare to find a used one without ragged edges, sometimes even internal fractures.
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