Does a European plug have a fuse?
Type G. The Europlug is physically not compatible with BS 1363 13 A sockets, used in e.g. the UK and Ireland. UK law requires a suitable fuse to be fitted in each plug to protect the appliance flexible cord; Europlugs do not contain such fuses. There is also a risk of damage to both the plug and socket.
Is there a fuse in a French plug?
Both fuses and breakers in French systems are double pole, this means both live and neutral are isolated in the event of a trip, ratings are the same for both – typically 2, 6, 10, 16, 20 and 32 amps and both are connected into distribution boards in exactly the same way.
Does a UK plug have to have a fuse?
All UK plugs have fuses fitted. These are to protect the flex rather than the appliance. Without a fuse, the only protection will be at the consumer unit and will typically be a 30A fuse or 32A circuit breaker. There are a few plugs in existance that fit into UK sockets, but they have no fuse.
What fuse is in a standard plug?
However most manufacturers put a 3 amp fuse in the plug as standard. As modern day living has progressed and technology improves, lightbulbs are changing over to LED.
Which countries have fuses in plugs?
None! The UK is the only country in the world to protect its people with fused mains connectors. Every other country relies on the consumer unit (sometimes known as the ‘fuse box’) for protection.
Where does the earth wire go in a French plug?
Electrics and wiring in plugs in France These are a brown one (live), a blue one (neutral), and a yellow and green one, which is the earth. The brown wire (live) always goes to the live side of the plug, where the fuse is found.
Can you put a 3 amp fuse in a 13amp plug?
Yes of course there is. The cable or flex attached to the gas fire is purely to supply the ignition. The flex provided is not rated to 13A because the ignition requires very little current and so the flex requires protection by a 3A fuse.
Can you use a 3 amp fuse in a 13amp plug?
What is the biggest fuse for a plug?
13A
A standard 13A plug (BS 1363) is designed to fit cables up to a maximum of 1.5mm2. The maximum current capacity of a 1.5mm2 cable is 15A and should be protected by a maximum fuse size of 13A. A 20A fuse in a domestic 13A plug should never be used.
Why do British plugs have fuses?
So the reason that British plugs still need to contain fuses is to protect appliances and their cables from the higher current flows possible with British ring circuits. The fuse protects the plug and the cable from currents that it cannot handle.
Why are European plugs so big?
The reason plugs in the UK are so big is that each one must be individually fused. And the reason for that is something called a “ring circuit”. But this means that the wires going to an individual appliance are far too small for the main breaker, so each appliance gets a fuse in the plug.
Why are fused plugs allowed in the UK?
The arrangement in the UK permits appliances connected with 0.5 sq mm flex to be safely connected to the same power circuit, because the plug can be fitted with a 3A or 5 A fuse (as per Tables in BS1363). We therefore don’t need additional 6A small power circuits.
Why do fuse plugs stay in the socket?
2) The plug will normally lie on the floor pins up. Most of us will have steped on one at some time. 3) The fuse connections tend to overheat, especially with cheap plugs on high loads. This has resulted in the live pin remaining in the socket as the plastic surounding it has been degraded by the heat.
Are there any countries that do not have fuses in plugs?
Country: Domestic appliances bought and used in many European countries don’t have fuses in their plugs, and in a lot of countries, including safety conscious Germany, they can be inserted into sockets either way round, so that live and neutral are effectively reversed.
What kind of plugs are used in Europe?
Typically 3 sockets can be fitted into the same space as one UK type. Really! The most common 3 pin connectors in Europe are the Schuko type, either the German version with side contacts for earth of the French version with an earth pin in the sockets.