15Amp immersion plug

[electrician4u]

have a customer who's just had a EICR done.has told me he's got a C2 on his immersion heater because it's an unfused 15A plug and socket.Although it's seperately fused in the consumer unit and switched locally, how can that possibly be a C2? he's asked me to remedy it.any suggestions?

 

[Octopus]

Go and fit a 20A isolation switch. As you say its on its own circuit, so what else could you do?

 

[snowhead]

Does the 15amp plug have shrouded pins?

Where is the plug / socket in relation to the Bathroom Zones?

The solution is obvious.

 

[electrician4u]

not in bathroom. shrouded pins?i don't think that's really the issue.it's never removed.it's been failed by someone who thinks an unfused plug deserves a code 2.I don't think it does so what can i do to get the customer a pass on his inspection?

 

[Steve_P]

This would be too easy..... Please give more information is, I think, the correct reply to this.

Seriously though, without more info it's impossible to say why it's been given a C2. The solution (if there is in fact one to solve) as the others rightly say is quite straight forward though.

 

[Octopus]

not in bathroom. shrouded pins?i don't think that's really the issue.it's never removed.it's been failed by someone who thinks an unfused plug deserves a code 2.I don't think it does so what can i do to get the customer a pass on his inspection?

Simple. get the customer to email the sparky who did the C2/inspection and ask him to detail the BS7671 regulation that he's refering to. if he can't then he should re-issue the cert with a satisfactory.

 

[electrician4u]

just to add, and in general, if you are required to do remedial work to sort out problems after an EICR and you don't agree with the codes, what paperwork can you provide to the customer to verify that the installation is safe?and even when you do agree with the codes and remedy the faults, what paperwork do you provide?

 

[Steve_P]

Sounds like a plan to me. Or, bearing in mind it's on its own circuit, change the 15A unfused plug (how is a 15A plug unfused? Ahh well...) for a fused one, charge the customer £2500 and go on holiday. Thinking about that, Murdoch's answer is better than mine.

 

[Marvo]

The BS546 15A plugs are unfused. We use them as standard plugs, known as SANS164 locally.

 

[electrician4u]

I've not found anything in the regs about this.If anyone could help, it would be most appreciated

 

[electrician4u]

As I only work on older installations can someone tell me how modern immersion heaters are wired? I assume it's via a flex outlet switched through a 20A isolating switch?some older immersion heaters are over 3kW which presumably could be wired the same.I'm reluctant to put it on a 13A fused spur or plug and socket as I don't think that would comply if it was over 13A

 

[shanky887614]

I've not found anything in the regs about this.If anyone could help, it would be most appreciated

Change mcb, change plug for fused or put fcu before socket.

(Surely you can tell easily if its over 3kw as 3kw is around 13amps, in other words if it was over it would be wired in 2.5+)

 

[Richard Burns]

Many immersion heaters are wired with 13A SFCUs, however the 20A switch is probably better overall, but no problem in using the FCU.

I can't remember why, I think it was something to do with high current through a friction connection, but it is recommended that plug and socket connections are not used for immersion heaters, they should be hard wired.

 

[Engineer54]

Many immersion heaters are wired with 13A SFCUs, however the 20A switch is probably better overall, but no problem in using the FCU.

I can't remember why, I think it was something to do with high current through a friction connection, but it is recommended that plug and socket connections are not used for immersion heaters, they should be hard wired.

If you compare the old BS546 15A plug/socket with the likes of the American flimsy almost paper thin plug top pins on their standard 15A and 20A plugs and sockets, ...that old BS 15A should easily be capable of 30A. ...lol!!

There was at least one manufacturer if not more, that did provide fused 15A plug tops. Around about the same time as the then new, BS 1363 13A fused plugs become the standard for all new installs.

 

[electrician4u]

As I only work on older installations can someone tell me how modern immersion heaters are wired? I assume it's via a flex outlet switched through a 20A isolating switch?some older immersion heaters are over 3kW which presumably could be wired the same.I'm reluctant to put it on a 13A fused spur or plug and socket as I don't think that would comply if it was over 13A