230v blue round plug to normal 3 pin plug

[Distant]

I have a piece of equipment that has a blue round plug (230v) on it, can I just cut the plug off and fit a 3 pin plug?

If not, how can I connect it to a standard 13amp 3 pin wall socket?

[TooLateForAName]

You probably shouldn't.

What is the equipment and what is its current draw? (I suspect the clue is the 13A plug and socket)

[pmanson]

I think you need a transformer like this

[GarryA]

You dont need a transformer, you need to find out the max current draw of the item in question, the small blue plugs are for 16A as said 13A is the max for your house plugs.

[dickymint]

http://www.mdnsupplies.co.uk/shop/13amp-plug-to-16...

No saying it's safe for your needs though.

I've got one which came as standard with my PAT testing kit.

[DrDeAtH]

buy an adaptor plug. you will find them in caravanning and camping places or 'go outdoors' they are about a fiver a piece.

[freecar]

Erm, not all blue sockets are 16amp, I have a 30amp one in my garage. I only need 20 amps though which is a pain because the 30amp one are more expensive than the 16amp ones.

OP, DO NOT PUT A 13AMP PLUG ON IT.

If your appliance needs 16 amps have a proper socket put in because burning wire in the walls is not a good look.

[GarryA]

Thats why I said 'small' blue plug.....

[freecar]

GarryA said:

Thats why I said 'small' blue plug.....

How will the OP know which he has?

[Ricky_M]

freecar said:

Erm, not all blue sockets are 16amp, I have a 30amp one in my garage. I only need 20 amps though which is a pain because the 30amp one are more expensive than the 16amp ones.

OP, DO NOT PUT A 13AMP PLUG ON IT.

If your appliance needs 16 amps have a proper socket put in because burning wire in the walls is not a good look.

Surely it would blow the 13 Amp fuse in the plug before it melts the cables?

[Mr Pointy]

freecar said:

Erm, not all blue sockets are 16amp, I have a 30amp one in my garage. I only need 20 amps though which is a pain because the 30amp one are more expensive than the 16amp ones.

OP, DO NOT PUT A 13AMP PLUG ON IT.

If your appliance needs 16 amps have a proper socket put in because burning wire in the walls is not a good look.

Why not put a 13A plug on it? If the current draw is too high it'll just blow the fuse in the plug top. It won't burn out any fixed wiring, especially as the socket is either on a ring main or a fused spur (if properly installed that is).

[thinfourth2]

I have a welder that should have a 16 amp plug but it has a 13amp plug

It blows the occasional fuse

I'm not dead

[freecar]

Tell you what, it's totally possible to strip the wires and insert them in any socket, it'll work and probably wont kill you.

OP do whatever the fk you want it doesn't matter.

[Distant]

Thanks for the replies, it is a 16amp connector. I'll get an adapter and keep an eye on it, it's a 4 channel audio power amplifier, I only plan to use 1 channel.

If the adapter blows up/my house catches fire/I die then I'll do it properly and get a transformer.

[tr7v8]

Distant said:

Thanks for the replies, it is a 16amp connector. I'll get an adapter and keep an eye on it, it's a 4 channel audio power amplifier, I only plan to use 1 channel.

If the adapter blows up/my house catches fire/I die then I'll do it properly and get a transformer.

If it is blue then it is 250VAC max & WILL NOT NEED A TRANSFORMER! Ignore the guessers here. I suspect it is a 16A IEC 60309 "Commando" Plug. The current will be written on it. If it has a locking ring then it may have some level of IP protection e.g. damp/shower or water proof. Check the rating of the equipment, I suspect it won't draw anything like 16Amps & the socket is for outside &/or industrial use. You need to get an adapter lead to adapt a 13Amp BS1363 plug with a tail to a commando socket from a caravan or marina place. The 13Amp fuse will protect the wiring you plug into.

This is from here:- http://www.audiomate.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=E30...

[eliot]

Blue commando as others have stated is normal mains, so no transformer required.
Wouldn't bother buying an adapter, just remove the plug (i.e. unscrew it, not cut it off) and and fit a 13A plug if you are confident that its not exceeding 13amps. If its close to the 13amps the plug will start getting warm anyway - which will be a clue (put your hand on the tumble drier plug after an hour!).

If the cable is so thick it wont even fit into a 13amp plug, then I would probably stop and not procede.

Awaits flaming....
..and prepares to find photos on 1.6mm welding rods used instead of 30amp fuse wire..

[mrmr96]

Ricky_M said:

freecar said:

Erm, not all blue sockets are 16amp, I have a 30amp one in my garage. I only need 20 amps though which is a pain because the 30amp one are more expensive than the 16amp ones.

OP, DO NOT PUT A 13AMP PLUG ON IT.

If your appliance needs 16 amps have a proper socket put in because burning wire in the walls is not a good look.

Surely it would blow the 13 Amp fuse in the plug before it melts the cables?

Exactly. Put a 3 pin plug on with appropriate fuse and it will either work or blow the fuse.

To save cutting wires, I'd just get the adapter (round to normal 3pin) and put a 13A fuse in that. Jobsagudden.

(Shame about all the misinformation available on forums these days really.)

[GarryA]

If it runs at 14amps say, thing will get a bit warm with a normal plug and socket.

[cjs]

Have a look at the back of the power amp, it will have the voltage & current rating printed on the back. Or look up the spec on the manufactures website.

[freecar]

mrmr96 said:

Ricky_M said:

freecar said:

Erm, not all blue sockets are 16amp, I have a 30amp one in my garage. I only need 20 amps though which is a pain because the 30amp one are more expensive than the 16amp ones.

OP, DO NOT PUT A 13AMP PLUG ON IT.

If your appliance needs 16 amps have a proper socket put in because burning wire in the walls is not a good look.

Surely it would blow the 13 Amp fuse in the plug before it melts the cables?

Exactly. Put a 3 pin plug on with appropriate fuse and it will either work or blow the fuse.

To save cutting wires, I'd just get the adapter (round to normal 3pin) and put a 13A fuse in that. Jobsagudden.

Shame about all the misinformation available on forums these days really

I'd suggest you look at the BS for fuses and how long they are permitted to remain intact for, you'll be surprised. Fuses are not circuit breakers and are designed to take more than the stated load for short periods of time due to different devices requiring a higher startup current.

This why I posted as I did, we do not know where the OP was planning on plugging it in or the condition of the wiring in his house. We didn't at that stage know that it was even a 16amp plug he was talking about, blue ones are also available in 30 amp flavour as I have a 20 amp welder in the garage with one, thing is the previous owner used this welder on a 13amp extension, it worked but wasn't best practice. Combine that with an old style fuse box and you have nothing that will fuse reliably at just over 13amps.

I've seen people using bare wires held in place with another plug, it works but is terrible advice.

OP how old is your fuse box? Do you have circuit breakers or fuse wire?

If the wiring conforms to current regulations and is correctly installed it will handle 16 amps no problem (even a spur should take over 20amps) 3 pin plugs aren't rated for it though so may get a bit hot. In reality not many appliances run flat out so chances are it wont demand it's max current and everything will be OK, even if it does demand max current a 13amp fuse will be fine for that as they are not designed to blow the second 13.1 amps flows through them.