16amp fuse instead of 13 in a plug.

[Wozzaaah]

I probably didn't make my post clear, I'm talking about welders coming with 16A plugs fitted, not those flyleads.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Aa a general rule single phase via a 13a fuse is normally good for up to and around 180Amps, without problems. Give it a go on a 13a plug and see what happens.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

To get you going just put a 13 amp plug on it for the moment - I reckon you would get pretty close to full power out of that, a 13 amp fuse will take more than 13 amps for a good period of time before it blows. To fit a 16 amp socket you would need to get your garage wiring checked out by an electrician to make sure it’s suitable - but I bet it will run fine from a standard plug.

Halfords used to supply SIP welders with a 13a plug. But the paper work advised a 16a one.

It will work, but never got full power. Sometimes the house breaker would let go.

But on the old Wire fuse boards, it would certainly get a bit warm.

 

[Lewis Williams]

I'll have a go on 13amps and have a chat with my sparky see what he says

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I probably didn't make my post clear, I'm talking about welders coming with 16A plugs fitted, not those flyleads.

All becomes clear.

 

[brightspark]

Halfords used to supply SIP welders with a 13a plug. But the paper work advised a 16a one.

It will work, but never got full power. Sometimes the house breaker would let go.

But on the old Wire fuse boards, it would certainly get a bit warm.

if its plugged in on the ring main it will be rated at 30 or 32 amp back at board. fitting a 13amp plug on the welder will not overload it the ring can take far more than that without overload . what you will find is the 13 amp fuse can carry a constant load of of up to 18 or 19 amp before it blows a minature breaker will trip before it reaches full load

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

if its plugged in on the ring main it will be rated at 30 or 32 amp back at board. fitting a 13amp plug on the welder will not overload it the ring can take far more than that without overload . what you will find is the 13 amp fuse can carry a constant load of of up to 18 or 19 amp before it blows a minature breaker will trip before it reaches full load

Thanks Mate.

I wasn't sure, did not have my reference books to hand. (lost in my van) and wasn't going to quote google for the answer.

 

[Yamhon]

You’re still not going to get 16a with one of those it’s still only going to allow you to pull 13a max

Yes, that should be obvious.

 

[pedrobedro]

You could put a 13amp 3 pin plug.
But you will never reach full power.

My 180 runs on 13 amp at full power no problem, good old fuse wire.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

My 180 runs on 13 amp at full power no problem, good old fuse wire.

Wire fuses take a lot of abuse.

I did have a film of a thermal image off a 1960's fuse board on full load.

 

[Yamhon]

There won't be a 16A plug on the end of the lead, it will be bare wires.
That item you linked to would be completely pointless.

Assumed the welder came with a 16amp plug. My bad.

 

[nickk]

Wire fuses take a lot of abuse.

I did have a film of a thermal image off a 1960's fuse board on full load.

Go on then ......let’s see it for a laugh

 

[Paul.]

Very often the power leads on welders and and plasma cutters are too big to fit in a 13A plug, so fitting a 16A and using 13a to 16a the adaptor lead is the only real way to safely use them, my workshop is only single phase 13amp but the welding machines run on adaptors perfectly well and have done for many years.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Go on then ......let’s see it for a laugh

The hint is in the words.
I did have.

We had the film for training for Fire Risk training.

 

[brightspark]

[2.5mm3 core flex is the max you can get in to a 13 amp plug and its a tight squeeze

 

[brightspark]

the best I went to was at a hotel in the sticks it had 100 amp single phase 415v supply that's 2 lives and a neutral and yes its classed as single phase not 2 phase they were told and better told about it being overloaded I told them to get there electrician to spread some of the load one was pulling off 120 amp the other 80 amp they took no notice 2 weeks later a full wedding on at 9pm the isolator totally burnt out and the electricity boards meter totally burnt and blew off the wall glad I wasn't next to it when it blew 200 amp across the phases

 

[sparkysy]

I would agree with the comments already made, a13a fuse will be fine especially if you're only doing short runs, I had mine on a plug for ages before I put a 16a socket in for it and only blew the fuse twice, once was on a long run on some thick stuff at full power, the other time I knocked a sheet of steel off and it fell on the lead and cut neatly live to earth scared the bejesus out of me with my lid on

 

[doubleboost]

The old plugs were the best type
(the ones you could wrap wire around the pins)
The pins were solid brass
The new ones are machined down with a plastic insert
I have ran a R Tech MIG 180 from a 13 amp plug no problem
Using a "fly lead"
It runs 16 amp normally but if i am mobile 13 amp no problem .
It is very rare that you need full power .,
If you are constantly running at high amps you need a bigger set with 16 or 32 amp supply

 

[brightspark]

I run my 180a oilcooled of a 13 amp plug had the same one on for 20 years without blowing im sure it must be a Chinese one

 

[sparkysy]

^^^^^ you haven't swapped it for a 6mm gutter bolt have you