16 Amp Plug

[Jamie_Hastings1]

Have recently bought a new Mig Welder. Its 230v but it requires a higher ampage plug. Can anyone link me/have one of the plugs i need? A 16amp round plug that fits into a 230/240v standard socket. Or do i need an adaptor?

[mez1can]

you wont get a 16A male plug to fit standard skt. this is the 16A plug


what rating is the welder?, ie power load etc

[Jamie_Hastings1]

CARAVAN FLY LEAD ADAPTOR 13A PLUG TO 16 AMP CONNECTOR on eBay (end time 23-Mar-10 15:47:48 GMT)

Will that not work?

Dont no power load etc yet,haven't really looked at it.

Cheers for help

[mez1can]

yea that shud do the job, just make sure the load etc is no more than the 13A fuse in standard plug otherwise you will overload the skt,cable etc

[Mark T]

Welder supply cables are rather fat, so you'll struggle to get them in a standard 3 pin domestic plug.

If you can get em in, (I just about managed) and you don't use it at full current, you'll be fine.

[Trevor]

There is a reason it needs a 16A supply. If you going to use a 13A three-pin to 16A commando socket adapter then you best have plenty fuses stockpiled.

[jayporn]

you would need a 16a fuse in the plug for that to work,
500v 16a Heavy Duty Ceramic Fuse 10x38 16amp mains 240v on eBay (end time 22-Mar-10 08:34:51 GMT)
looks like what you need....

Should be fine plugging into mains sockets as there rated to 32a.

Seen that type of plug in a take away place for running a huuuge fryer on 415v lmao
can you post a pic of the welder

[Trevor]

you would need a 16a fuse in the plug for that to work,
500v 16a Heavy Duty Ceramic Fuse 10x38 16amp mains 240v on eBay (end time 22-Mar-10 08:34:51 GMT)
looks like what you need....

Should be fine plugging into mains sockets as there rated to 32a.

Seen that type of plug in a take away place for running a huuuge fryer on 415v lmao
can you post a pic of the welder

Mains sockets are 32A at the consumer unit, that is to supply ALL the sockets on the ring, the question is will the individual socket be OK running 16A though it?

That said, I run my 16A compressor on my socket on my cooker wall plate, but the cooker has a 40A fuse and is wired direct so it is only shared with the cooker.

[Jamie_Hastings1]

Well i did manage to get it into a normal domestic plug but then my Dad told me it was a 16amp supply so needs a round type plug. He told me hes just going to get a 16 amp socket put on the garage wall for it. Will that be ok?

[mez1can]

Mains sockets are 32A at the consumer unit, that is to supply ALL the sockets on the ring, the question is will the individual socket be OK running 16A though it?

That said, I run my 16A compressor on my socket on my cooker wall plate, but the cooker has a 40A fuse and is wired direct so it is only shared with the cooker.

your correct. main rings are rated at 32A which is for the whole circuit. 13A plugs are still only rated at 13A so if you run more current than that it will defo heat up the plug and skt and possiblly melt it due to overload and depending what else you are running on the circuit may cause tripping of the mcb due to overload etc.

cooker plates are rated at 45A so would handle that sort of power from your compressor fine with out any worries...

let me know the ratings etc of your new welder and i will work out everything you need to know

[jayporn]

Didn't think an extra 3A on the socket would matter, I'm no a sparky tho lmao

What would happen if there was a double socket with a heater drawing 13A and something else on the other side drawing 3A ? so in effect drawing 16A total... Everyone saying the socket wil melt? I dont believe that tbh

If you fit a proper socket then u'll only be able to use the welder wherever you fit it.

[jayporn]

Still need the specs of the welder?

If it does draw 16A max then thats 230v x16A = 3680W

That would be at maximum though, remember welding is usually stop start and not just like drawing full power for long periods of time,

Think about Boiling the kettle in the kitchen and making toast at the same time thats bound to use more watts lmao

[Trevor]

Didn't think an extra 3A on the socket would matter, I'm no a sparky tho lmao

What would happen if there was a double socket with a heater drawing 13A and something else on the other side drawing 3A ? so in effect drawing 16A total... Everyone saying the socket wil melt? I dont believe that tbh

If you fit a proper socket then u'll only be able to use the welder wherever you fit it.

It is the contact area between the pins in the plug and the connectors in the socket that is the issue, overload them and they heat up, then they start to arc, and that makes them heat up...... So effectively a 2 gang socket is actually the same as two one gang sockets side by side.