Mains Plug Fuse Rating

Rhodium plated end caps.

Mains plug fuse rating.

Hifi tuning gold audio fuses for uk mains plugs. For appliances above 700w a 13a fuse should be fitted. All uk moulded plugs bs1363 must have the fuse rating marked on them. Plugs for appliances rated between about 700 watts and 3000 watts the maximum rating of a wall socket should be fitted with a 13 amp fuse coloured brown.

For an appliance rated as 700w or less a 3a fuse should be fitted. Glass cartridge and plug fuses allow direct inspection of the fusible element. Manufacturers have now standardised plug fuse ratings to be either 3a or 13a. The problem in most homes is that if a replacement plug top is fitted to an electrical item it will more than likely be fitted with a 13 amp fuse regardless of what the wattage is.

So if you have a 240 volt heater rated at 3 kw 3000 watts it will have a load of 12 5 amps therefore it requires a fuse rated at 13 amps. If it s a rewireable type plug and the original fuse size fitted by the manufacturer is not known the recommended method is to use the 700w rule. Plugs fitted with bs 546 fuses have been optional since the original bs 546 1934 with maximum fuse ratings of 2 a in the 2 a plug and 5 a in the 5 a 15 a and 30 a plugs. 13a fuse washing machine dishwasher microwave kettle toaster iron.

The 15 ampere a sockets were generally given a dedicated 15 a circuit. 13a rating only. These are 20mm long to fit inside uk equipment it is important you fit the same fuse rating as per the original fuse. Mcru rhodium plated uk plug fuses.

In practice most bs 546 plugs are unfused with fused versions being unusual and expensive.