Help - melted plug - why?

[Midwest]

What about the Wi-Fi socket?

 

[Midwest]

OP, did you purchase the immersion heater/plug top & flex set up, or is it something you put together yourself ?

 

[Dan White]

What about the Wi-Fi socket?

Yeah, everything's wired correctly (polarity-wise)

 

[Pete999]

Arse. So what's best practice?

It's a RECOMMENDATION ONLY that anything over 2KW should be on a dedicated circuit ie not the RFC.
Loose connection at the fuse holder N switched Off arcing at the plug top?

 

[Dan White]

OP, did you purchase the immersion heater/plug top & flex set up, or is it something you put together yourself ?

I bought the immersion - to which I connected the flex and plug. Bought the extension (the highest rated one they did in Homebase) and the wifi thing from Maplin's.

 

[Dan White]

It's been connected for the last 3 months and has worked perfectly (or so I thought). Feel a bit bad that I've only just checked the plug!

 

[Midwest]

The moulded plug and flex, where did that come from?

 

[westward10]

It isn't the best idea to load a 13A plug up to 3kw and I suspect this has been occurring for some time judging by the damage.

 

[Dan White]

The moulded plug and flex, where did that come from?

Homebase.

 

[Midwest]

I think a re-think is necessary. As its your business, I would suggest employing an electrician, and your set re-designed.

 

[Dan White]

It isn't the best idea to load a 13A plug up to 3kw and I suspect this has been occurring for some time judging by the damage.

So how to I safely get power to the immersion? Need to be able to connect and disconnect via plug as it's in a van!

The other chap who I do this with has a less manly flex and although his gets hot, it's not meeting hot.

 

[Dan White]

I think a re-think is necessary. As its your business, I would suggest employing an electrician, and your set re-designed.

Fair point. Main problem it actually finding one who will come and look at the job. Have been let down consistently by tradesmen of all descriptions countless times over the last couple of years. I'm always courteous, and expect to pay what the job costs - but it seems that most sparkies have more work than they need, and don't even want to quote for work!

 

[Pete999]

So how to I safely get power to the immersion? Need to be able to connect and disconnect via plug as it's in a van!

The other chap who I do this with has a less manly flex and although his gets hot, it's not meeting hot.

Do you leave the flex coiled up when in use?

 

[Dan White]

Do you leave the flex coiled up when in use?

Definitely not!

 

[Wilko]

Hi - observation is the 13A plug melted when used at about 13A. A 13A fuse won't blow when there's a 3kW load and no fault, but maybe there was a bit of corrosion/tarnish on the 13A fuse and that made it a bit more resistive and so it ran hot? Anyway, perhaps a new circuit from your CU with 16A socket and plug would fix this?