Help - melted plug - why?

[Dan White]

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?

View attachment 37691

Would a 16A socket and plug suffice? - running a new circuit off the CU would be a ball ache due to its location.

 

[static zap]

Does this "Neutral" issue mean it will dislike you fitting an RCD to external sockets ?
(very un-fit product)

 

[Pete999]

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?

View attachment 37691

ON a dedicated circuit though

 

[Midwest]

Would a 16A socket and plug suffice? - running a new circuit off the CU would be a ball ache due to its location.

As Pete mentioned earlier, informative guidance in the wiring regs is loads of more than 2kW, should have their own dedicated circuit, like most storage water heaters are on, probably for the reasons you've encounter. As well as putting a load on your ring circuit, which might unbalance things.

Another consideration, is what type of supply you have, as I assume you set up is somehow fixed into your van?

Edit; Pete got there first

 

[Pete999]

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?

View attachment 37691

ON a dedicated circuit though

Would a 16A socket and plug suffice? - running a new circuit off the CU would be a ball ache due to its location.

If you're going to use a 16 Amp plug and socket, then it's a dedicated circuit

 

[Dan White]

Does this "Neutral" issue mean it will dislike you fitting an RCD to external sockets ?
(very un-fit product)

I don't know? Would it?

 

[westward10]

It has little to do with the fact it should be on a dedicated circuit but more that the plug top fuse has endured excessive current but a 16A socket is the solution.

 

[Pete999]

It has little to do with the fact it should be on a dedicated circuit but more that the plug top fuse has endured excessive current but a 16A socket is the solution.

Of course it does

 

[Midwest]

I don't know? Would it?

The Wi-Fi plug thing, isolating the neutral but not the live, cannot be right. This would turn 'off' anything connected to, but the device would still be 'live'. I doubt very much, if this is how it's designed. So you either have a connection problem, or your 'testing device' is wrong.

 

[Dan White]

Another consideration, is what type of supply you have, as I assume you set up is somehow fixed into your van?

Edit; Pete got there first

It goes to a plug fitted to the flex coming out of the immersion element. It's never got hot, just slightly warm.

 

[Dan White]

The Wi-Fi plug thing, isolating the neutral but not the live, cannot be right. This would turn 'off' anything connected to, but the device would still be 'live'. I doubt very much, if this is how it's designed. So you either have a connection problem, or your 'testing device' is wrong.

It's the tester pictured above - simple 'plug' with LEDs

 

[Midwest]

It's the tester pictured above - simple 'plug' with LEDs

What does it show, when plugged into the socket without the Wi-Fi thing?

i.e. socket turned off?

 

[westward10]

Of course it does

Why it isn't a fixed appliance even though it is an immersion element, it is essentially being used as a portable appliance plugged into a socket. You could have installed a dedicated 13A socket for it and you would have the same result. My kettle is rated 2.75 - 3.0kw so does that need a dedicated circuit.

 

[Midwest]

Why it isn't a fixed appliance even though it is an immersion element, it is essentially being used as a portable appliance plugged into a socket. You could have installed a dedicated 13A socket for it and you would have the same result. My kettle is rated 2.75 - 3.0kw so does that need a dedicated circuit.

But your kettle is unlikely to be on for long periods of time.

 

[Pete999]

Why it isn't a fixed appliance even though it is an immersion element, it is essentially being used as a portable appliance plugged into a socket. You could have installed a dedicated 13A socket for it and you would have the same result. My kettle is rated 2.75 - 3.0kw so does that need a dedicated circuit.

The kettle is only used for very short periods, Matey's element is on for longer, If you intend sticking a 13 Amp socket on a dedicated circuit and you know what it's going to be used for, in this case a 3KW water heater then quite frankly you are wasting your time, do it right the first time.