Are there any regulations which restrict the fixing of a 4-way trailing socket to a wall? It would be fixed on a semi-permanent basis.
This is the sort of thing:
Since they're plugged into a 13A socket the only regulations may be that they become liable for testing as appliances.
Most (well, some) of them do have some sort of arrangement for fixing to a surface.
Are you sure that's what the OP means by "fixed on a semi permanent basis " I was wondering if he was going to remove the plug and connect it some other way .If not and it is as you suggest then I don't see what the problem might be .The ones I have do have keyhole sockets for hanging on screws as you allude to below.
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be disregarded .
In the Middle East. Saw some pretty cheap versions of the sort of thing referred to in;
<They supposedly met some sort of specification for UK style 13 amp plugs etc.
But occasionally they would catch fire! The one pictured is probably of good UK quality?
Hi, I'm the OP.
When I mentioned "semi-permanent" I meant I would leave the trailing socket mounted on the wall (and powered via its plug) for as long as I had the need for those extra sockets.
If I change my mind about the where I want the powered appliances to be then this might be only 3 months but it could be a year or even more or even permanently.
Yes, I've seen those mounting holes. There are lots of very cheap trailing sockets made in the far-east and I use them and they seem fine.
However, I didn't know if the mounting holes were some inspired feature which someone in far off factory had included without any reference to what is actually permitted in the UK.
I wouldn't worry if a pound shop sells me a duff telephonee extension (made for the US rather than the UK market) but mains devices have a safety implication and I'd rather not rely on the discount store for advice about UK electrical safety requirements!
Aaah!!! That version of semi permanent . No different from having one sitting on the floor powering various things like Hi-Fi etc or behind a PC/Printer/Speakers etc etc or indeed hanging from the computer desk..
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One thing to bear in mind is that these sockets (no matter what the label may say) do not seem to appreciate sustained high loads. Using something like a washing machine connected to one would quite likely cause it to overheat in time.
For H&S manily safety you should run an electric fire off an extenstion block (my downstairs neighbour had that setup) which isn;t good because anyone can plug anything in to teh block and overrate 13a plug. Doubt there's any law provided you don't securely fix it to a wall and hard wire the plug which I have seen. I'm sure I've seen a similar thing in B&Q where a3 sockets can be taken from single socket outlet can fixed in place.
As I sadi I think the biggest danger if the unknowing connect a 3kW fire and the kettle/washing machine etc..to the same extention block.
I'd concentrate more on the total current consumption of these appliences if all are on together as the major worry.
The total power drawn from a 13 amp plug, under the circumstaces you mention above, (3 KW fire, a kettle and a washing machine,) will just blow the fuse in the plug feeding the extension.
Dave
Not sure if this is relevant, we had a marquee in our garden, it had an extension lead where two tube lights were plugged in and 3 heaters which in total gave an output of 5.5kw, this worked fine until we tried plugging in a 2000w vacuum cleaner which blew the fuse.
Does anybody actually _use_ 3-bar electric fires these days?
The only common portable electric fires seem to be fairly low-powered halogen jobbies.
Yes, the builders we had here used one in their cabin over the winter. And they frequently tripped our (16A) MCB by switching on their kettle at the same time. When we were away from the house the MCB couldn't be reset, so no warmth and no tea - *eventually* they caught on.
Fan heaters. Not technically 3-bar as they don't have bars as such but you know what I mean.
As (unbeknown to me) my Mum found out the hard way.
I got a phone call from her saying whenever she use the washing machine lately there was a burning smell and when I popped round I found the fairly good make / model of plug fused into a fairly good make / model of four way trailing lead (there was a black carbon circle around one of the plug (L-N) pins. I just cut the plug off, threw away both plug and trailing lead, fitted a new MK plug and instructed her to *only* plug it directly into the wall socket in future.
However, I also see nothing wrong with their use (I must have 10 in this place, all full up) as_long_as you only use low(ish) energy gear or if you are using higher power stuff, keep an eye on it (also a hand now and again to check it isn't getting too warm etc).
T i m
p.s. Probably no need but I also try to space out the 'wall wart' type PSU plugs with standard mains lead type plugs, ensuring there is a good air flow around the PSUs.
13A fuses take a long time to blow at 2x rated current, so these multi- way sockets, as well as the older type of adaptor, do allow sizeable overloading if the user is foolish enough.
NT
You overdid it on the lights!
13A fuses also vary in capacity. We had an oven at work that had run for years on a plug; fuse went, tried several 13A fuses and they lasted between seconds and minutes; ended up with a 20A fused outlet for a 14A load :-(Vacs, fridges etc. take a big whack on starting - fascinating on a storage 'scope. There's a case for a BS anti-surge fuse, to avoid fitting a 13A one for a 1A fridge.
The hire company fitted the lights and told us to plug 'em in when needed.
We had a funny one at work. Maintenance guy was in, and going around the building replacing dead lamps. As he pushed in a new 20W MR16 downlighter in reception, pop, and everything goes off. Investigation quickly reveals the 3-phase 630A incomming breakers on one of our mains feeds has tripped! (Fortunately that supply only did the office space and the 2MVA feed to the computer room was still OK.) On resetting the breaker, we can see we're somewhat over 630A, and had only been getting by because rather a lot of the lamps had died in the building. We had 3 separate mains supplies into the building (each time you want more power, they lay on an additional supply rather than upgrading your existing ones), and were fortunately able to move some load to one of the others.
I had one of those blow at work.
It was a disusued bakery and the new tenant called me to say he wanted power turning back on and making safe any damaged bits and pieces. I flicked the main switch and the whole bakery lit up in a deafening explosion. The problem was found to be some armoured for a submain that was half hacksawed through with the hacksaw still in it.
Adam
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