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Biodiesel => Biodiesel equipment => Topic started by: Tony on July 20, 2014, 07:02:47 PM

Title: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Tony on July 20, 2014, 07:02:47 PM: Running a batch yesterday, came out to find the back of the 13A mains plug on the heater had turned brown over where the fuse is. Too hot to touch. It had melted the plastic of the 6-way adapter it was plugged into which came with it when unplugged. The live pin was rather charred.

I've done many batches with this this plug and no problems, just goes to show you can never be too sure.

I think I'll upgrade to 16A commandos.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: photoman290 on July 20, 2014, 07:24:07 PM: yes good idea. i i have had that problem as well. it tends to be caused by the fuse holder getting corroded.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: oakwoodtv on July 20, 2014, 11:01:10 PM: Allways had this problem on the old ark welder solved it by using two neutral
pins getting rid off the fuse not to code but who wants to live forever.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Jmg on July 21, 2014, 12:09:16 AM: Yep while I was in the middle of changing my garden around I was running my setup off a lead from the conservatory.
I wasn't very popular when she saw the mess it made of her nice new (at the time) socket oops.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Manfred on July 21, 2014, 01:58:57 PM: That's scary Tony. Just shows what can happen, I noticed mine get warm but not hot. What are 16a commandos ?
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Tony on July 21, 2014, 02:13:41 PM: Hiya, it's these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60309

(Unfused but for the breaker in the consumer unit). I have a 32A breakered commando by the consumer unit in my shed, that currently runs a 32A extension cable which is commando converted down to a 6-way 13A connector.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: greasemonkey on July 21, 2014, 02:54:29 PM: It'll never go on fire, the fuse will go first or the fuse holder will disintegrate. (Public safety advice from the Lair of the Monkey..........)
Just slap a bolt in the fuse holder, it'll last longer than the fuse, and weld itself to the holder. Then it burns a hole in the socket.
Also used to run arcs on a three pin plug.
Disclaimer: The only reason I have survived to nearly middle age is through extraordinary good luck.......
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Manfred on July 21, 2014, 03:39:50 PM: Cheers.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: Jamesrl on July 21, 2014, 06:34:05 PM: Quote from: Manfred on July 21, 2014, 01:58:57 PM
What are 16a commandos ?

They're little plugs with no pants on, naughty plugs.
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: photoman290 on July 21, 2014, 07:02:03 PM: also called see forms, or ceeforms to give it the correct spelling. see what i did there?

i'll get my coat..........
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: julesandtash on July 22, 2014, 10:42:15 PM: They are the same thing you find on generators, caravan site hookups, industrial power tools etc.
Blue for 230V, Yellow for 110V, Red for 400V
Title: Re: Unexpected near electrical fire
Post by: hifly on August 17, 2014, 10:49:43 PM: 13a plugs are not rated for 13a on a prolonged basis, a 3kw load should either be hard wired or on a commando plug as stated above.