Normally I wouldn't necro a thread but in this instance it's probably worth clearing a few things up.
Wiring (ie the cables in the wall) are sized according to the predicted maximum demand on the circuit (which is not the maximum it's possible to pull if you plug a heater into every powerpoint, but rather the maximum the circuit is likely to see at any one point in time). You will not damage the wiring by overloading the circuit; that's what fuses/circuit-breakers are for.
The problem with using 15A stuff on normal circuits is that the powerpoints themselves (and any extension cords you might use) are only rated for a 10A load. What this means is that you might end up melting a powerpoint/cord.
I was bench testing a 2gr machine using a short 10A extension cord and while the machine was warming up (15A constant load) the extension cord was getting pretty warm. If you were to actually power an in-service machine you run the risk of melting cables/sockets and causing injury/damage to yourself or your stuff, especially over time (as the repeated overheating can damage the cable insulation bit by bit).
Of course if you're running rewireable fuses and have put in thicker wire then what I said about circuit protection means nothing; have fun with your house-fire.
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15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
As has been said already, any correctly installed power point will be protected so "theoretically" no damage can be done to the house circuit itself.
The philosophy driving the wireing size and therefore the fuse current rating of any power point circuit is to protect the wiring, NOT what is plugged into it, as this isnt known or controllable.
The problem here is ignorant people fitting bigger fuse elements when the original fuse keeps blowing due to overload of the circuit, THEN it is a huge problem as the wiring to the power points is then being overloaded and you could burn your house down
I have come across some very dangerous and strange bodges over the years, like a home made double adapter, a single 15 amp power point on a block with two 10 amp leads feeding it, so that one lead can be fed off one 10 amp power circuit and the other off a different 10 amp power circuit, so preventing the correctly sized fuses from blowing.
The main danger is that if you pull out one lead while the other is still pluged in and turned on, then the pins on the pulled male plug are LIVE!!!!!!!!
This is a situation I am going to have to attent to soon with my just aquired 60s single group Bo-Ema lever machine, a 15 amp outlet is a small price to pay to get a classic machine going again ;D
see:http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1177033982
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
Robusto,
A reasonably modern house with "daisy chained" 10 Amp outlets (the wiring code defines the maximum number) will be connected with 2.5 square mm cable. This can safely carry 16 Amps without overheating.... and the run will be protected by a 15A fuse or 16A breaker.....
But as you said a second device on the run could exceed the maximum draw through the fuse/breaker and cause it to drop the supply.....
But in older homes (corroded joints) or those with bodgy installation (and especially those with a nail in the fuse wedge rather than a fuse) .... the extra current could cause a fire.....
In all cases it is far safer to run 15A (or greater) appliances on their own power run (installed to the wiring code) - just to be safe.
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
The main reason why people cut off 15Amp plugs is that they dont "fit" into standard sockets. The ground pin is specifically designed larger so you cant jam it into a standard outlet. 15 Amp circuits have a slightly different faceplate to accommodate the larger ground pin. This is a safety measure.
So people swap them for a 10 amp plug which does fit into standard socket. If you dont have a safety switch installed this is a dangerous practice however, if you do have a saftey switch then you will be visiting your switchboard more often.
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
The problem -- a significant one -- is when another appliance is also plugged into the 10 amp circuit, overloading the cable.
15 amp power points are wired back directly to the fuse box, not tapped from existing power runs as a 10 amp one probably will be.
Changing the plug in itself is not intrinsically dangerous. The plug can handle 15 amps (they are very substantial pins, heavier than the wires that attach to them).
-Robusto
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
Originally posted by Thundergod link=1177070823/0#0 date=1177070823I was browsing a well known site just now and ran a cross a 2 Group Boema where part of the description says
"IT S 15AMP BUT THE PLUG HAS BEEN CHANGED 10Amps PLUG SO IT CAN BE USED AT NORMAL POWER".
Isnt a 15 Amp machine trying to suck electricity through a 10 Amp circuit going to be a problem?
Well it will.... unless they have reduced the number of elements connected to the supply. Most of these machines have three elements (so they can be connected to 3 phase power)..... and by only using 1 (or maybe 2) elements you can reduce the power drawn to less than 10 Amps....
Just takes longer to heat up and recovery is slower.....
I ran mine of a 10Amp supply for quite a while whilst doing the restoration..... (no 20 Amp outlets in the shed).... but run all three now on a 25 Amp power run.
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Re: 15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
yes i believe it is..........however i have seen this numerous time on that well known site, maybe this explains some house fires hey
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15 Amp Boema with 10 Amp plug
I was browsing a well known site just now and ran a cross a 2 Group Boema where part of the description says
"IT S 15AMP BUT THE PLUG HAS BEEN CHANGED 10Amps PLUG SO IT CAN BE USED AT NORMAL POWER".
Isnt a 15 Amp machine trying to suck electricity through a 10 Amp circuit going to be a problem?Tags: None
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