Replacing 16amp plug with 32amp plug

[tab]

I'll start by saying i hardly know nothing about electrics, if i'm given the right bits i have no problem wiring things up but as for what the right things are, well lets just say my knowledge could be written on the back of a stamp

I've just got my hands on a mig welder that has a 16amp plug on it, my tig welder is currently on a 32amp plug with a 30amp rcbo* (need to change this i think as it always trips it when i turn it on), would i be doing any harm in sticking a 32amp plug on the mig and using the same socket as the tig? My gut instinct is telling me to put a new dedicated socket in with a smaller rcbo.

The wires got 6.0 stamped on it if thats any help in providing an answer.

*just reading this off the board no idea what the difference is between this and other trip type things

 

[rtbcomp]

The rcbo protects the wiring up to the socket and a fuse in the welder protects the welder so you should be OK to put a 32A plug on the MIG.

 

[madkayaker]

30 amp rcbo sounds like either a very old unit or you are miss reading the sensitivity as the overload rating as just about all rcbo's (to BSEN 6009 if the gray matter is working) are 32amps. If your not sure upload a photo of the unit and we can tell you what it is.

 

[tab]

The rcbo protects the wiring up to the socket and a fuse in the welder protects the welder so you should be OK to put a 32A plug on the MIG.

Cheers, daft question... Where about would the fuse on the welder be and are they easy (ish) to replace? Only fuse i've ever changed is one on a standard plug but obviously these are very different

30 amp rcbo sounds like either a very old unit or you are miss reading the sensitivity as the overload rating as just about all rcbo's (to BSEN 6009 if the gray matter is working) are 32amps. If your not sure upload a photo of the unit and we can tell you what it is.

Just took the photos but cant upload them from my phone, i'll stick them on here tonight when i can get onto my laptop.

 

[madkayaker]

The fuse on the welder might be in a holder near the flex input, on the control board, in a holder inside or electronic auto reset type consult the manual If you have one or go hunting

 

[tab]

heres the pictures, first ones a close up of the rcbo, the second one is of the board itself

just managed to get an instruction manual so will have a flick through that to see where abouts the fuse is

 

[madkayaker]

the left is a 20 type C and the right is 16A type C

 

[tab]

Brilliant thanks mate, i was reading that 30mA bit. Told you i knew nothing about electrics

So if that ones only 20amp that would explain why its always tripping, so am i now right in thinking that if i replace that with a 32amp rcbo, i'll be fine running tig(32amp) and mig(16amp with 32 plug) off of it?

 

[madkayaker]

In theory yes but with out detailed information on the installation I couldn't say it would be safe and you have no way of testing the rcd once installed (the test button is just a guide really)

 

[brightspark]

Brilliant thanks mate, i was reading that 30mA bit. Told you i knew nothing about electrics

So if that ones only 20amp that would explain why its always tripping, so am i now right in thinking that if i replace that with a 32amp rcbo, i'll be fine running tig(32amp) and mig(16amp with 32 plug) off of it?

u can upgrade the rcbo but u must allso upgrade the wire feeding the socket to a minimum of 4.0mm or 6.0mm as its probably only wired in 2.5mm @20 amp .it is not wise to use a 16 amp welder on the 30 amp supply even if it is fused inside the welder

 

[tab]

Thanks for the answers, the wire is 6.0mm already. I think what i'm going to do is get a 32amp rcbo for the tig and use the current 20amp for the mig welder.

 

[rtbcomp]

........it is not wise to use a 16 amp welder on the 30 amp supply even if it is fused inside the welder

Why not, it's perfectly OK to run a 1 amp appliance off a 13A socket.

 

[brightspark]

Why not, it's perfectly OK to run a 1 amp appliance off a 13A socket.

yes but the fuse is in the plug at source of the 13 amp plug the lead is not rated at 13 amp to the apliance have u ever seen a 5 amp extension lead burn out and set a house on fire because it was fitted with a 13 amp fuse and overloaded

 

[rtbcomp]

But in this case even if the welder mains lead shorted the trip would go before the lead got too hot to do any damage.

have u ever seen a 5 amp extension lead burn out and set a house on fire because it was fitted with a 13 amp fuse and overloaded

No - Stupid thing to do, that's why there are different fuse ratings.

If you want to run a 13A appliance or less from a 16/32 amp socket the an adaptor should be made up blue plug to 13A socket.

 

[madkayaker]

I can't see any issue with running a 16A welder (that should have protection inside) off a 32 supply. Lets face it I bet if we measure the current used by the bigger welder its less than 32 amp

 

[brightspark]

I can't see any issue with running a 16A welder (that should have protection inside) off a 32 supply. Lets face it I bet if we measure the current used by the bigger welder its less than 32 amp

providing the leads in is min 4.0mm flex and it is fused inside yes but not if the lead is any smaller . and u dont know . i thought this forum didnt advise bad practice or advice . aparently not

 

[Country Joe]

providing the leads in is min 4.0mm flex and it is fused inside yes but not if the lead is any smaller . and u dont know . i thought this forum didnt advise bad practice or advice . aparently not

I think the flex is 6.0mm.
All the Best,
CJ

 

[brightspark]

I think the flex is 6.0mm.
All the Best,
CJ

fine if it is fused inside

 

[madkayaker]

providing the leads in is min 4.0mm flex and it is fused inside yes but not if the lead is any smaller . and u dont know . i thought this forum didnt advise bad practice or advice . aparently not

The most the welder can draw is 16A as it should be internally fused and the flex should be capable of carrying that. One of the changes in the 17th is the concept of down stream fuseing