8mm Forum: 13 Amp Plug

This is topic 13 Amp Plug - A Warning in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on February 20, 2014, 05:23 AM:

The flat-pin 13 amp plug is the bane of life in the UK. It's too big for a start, it doesn't often fit in neatly in a projector's original box. The wiring is a nightmare, each of the three wires being of different lengths, cut just a bit too much and you have to start all over again, too long and the wires will not fit in the very restricted channels.

I say all this because I've just taken delivery of an RCA 1600 off eBay, and as usual, the first thing I did was to check the plug top, the RCA uses a captive mains lead.

Utter horror. All three screws were loose, the ends of the wires were not twisted and bent over, and there were "whiskers" protruding. Worst of all, the black neutral had been trapped under the cover (not in its channel) with the bare wire exposed. Last of all, one end of the fuse had been arcing due to loose fitting in its clip.

It took over 30 minutes to cut it all off and strip back sufficiently to start again.

When a lovely new projector arrives it's only natural to want to plug it in and see how it runs. But resist the temptation. First of all take off the plug top to check the wiring and also to see if a correctly rated fuse is fitted.

When all that's done, sit back and enjoy your new purchase.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on February 20, 2014, 05:43 AM:

"The flat-pin 13 amp plug is the bane of life in the UK......The wiring is a nightmare, each of the three wires being of different lengths,...."

Not if you use a quality plug Maurice!. The classic MK Plug used wires ALL the same length.

"....cut just a bit too much and you have to start all over again, too long and the wires will not fit in the very restricted channels"...

And it had a paper diagram which fitted over the pins when new showing you not only how long the cut the leads but clearly which colour went where, how the cable clamp worked and how the fuse fitted.

".....the ends of the wires were not twisted and bent over, and there were "whiskers" protruding. Worst of all, the black neutral had been trapped under the cover (not in its channel) with the bare wire exposed".

Twisted, YES. Bent over, NO. In the channels, YES.The MK Plug diagram shows it all. And most other makes had similar diagrams.... but then, like TV sets and other appliances, the first thing one should do with something new is throw away the Instructions!

A penny for every one I've fitted over the years and I'd be a very rich man now.

"Tongue-in-cheek", Maurice! Yes, they can be frustrating.
Happy New Year!

[Smile]

Posted by Paul Mason (Member # 4015) on February 20, 2014, 05:43 AM:

Maurice you are absolutely right. In the UK it was made compulsory to supply electrical appliances with a plug about 20 years ago. Before that many appliances were sold without factory fitted plugs so many cine projectors have plugs fitted by the first owner. Check the plug is wired up correctly inside and replace old or damaged plugs especally the type without insulation at the base of the pins. Some new plugs are designed to accept wires cut to the same length and these are easier to connect

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on February 20, 2014, 09:07 AM:

At least with the 3 pin UK 13 amp! plug and socket. The earth pin is longer, to go in first this opens the shutters for live & neutral. Some countries don't have this.

The good old MK plug, Ever Ready also did one years ago this also was easy to wire.

One very important point about the UK plug is this 13 amp. All new plugs have a 13 amp fuse fitted, now this will only be needed for high current stuff like an electric fire.

You should fit a 3 amp or 5 amp or 13 amp fuse depending on the equipment requirements. Or as I once saw a nail with tin foil to make it fit [Roll Eyes]

I used to work for the Post Office (Telecommunications). When I was on the internal training course, we spent a whole morning wiring a 13 amp plug(s).

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on February 20, 2014, 09:58 AM:

I should point out that I was re-wiring a rubber Duraplug which came with the RCA.

In addition, there was a strange material, a sort of braided fluffy cotton between the rubber insulation of the wire and the three inner conductors which literally had to be picked off with tweezers.

Incidentally, green for earth, white for live, and black for neutral.

The RCA 1600 was made in Camden, N.J., model number MI 35053F, for the 240 volt UK market.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on February 20, 2014, 10:00 AM:

Little known fact...
There are also 2A, 7A and 10A fuses available for the plugs.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on February 20, 2014, 02:40 PM:

quote:
Incidentally, green for earth, white for live, and black for neutral.

US colour code I think? You were lucky to get a cable with it been non standard. The H/S brigade would have a field day.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on February 20, 2014, 02:48 PM:

David
The projector came with its original cable and fitted with a 13 amp plug, all I did was to remove the damaged section and re-connect to the plug.

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