Strange Plugs?

[divegirl]

Hi, I've just taken delivery of my 'new to me' tank from Ebay [well chuffed.....4' tank & stand, Eheim 2213, Fluval 4+, two sets of lights, heater and loads of decorations....all for £40 delivered ].

BUT.....everything seems to have a strange plug on it!!! Instead of a normal British plug it's a flat block of plastic with 3 small pins in a straight line [bit like a electric shaver].....not like the ones you get from Japan [have had those on lights before, but they always come with an adaptor].

Any ideas?

Lisa x

 

[OohFeeshy]

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

Sounds like 'type L'.

 

[divegirl]

Cheers for that Feeshy

It does look very similar to that. In the meanwhile I have mailed the seller and Number One Son has taken one of the plugs apart to reveal what appears to be normal wiring [earth, wind and fire or something ]...... so hopefully said Son will be able to re-wire them all for me!!!!
Think I'll leave the house when he plugs something in though

Lisa x

 

[Geoff1991]

Careful, although you can rewire them, make sure the voltage is correct. Say the voltage on the tank equipment is 120v... Putting a new plug on and plugging them into 240v wouldn't be good...

 

[divegirl]

Cheers hun.....just had a mail from the seller and he said it was part of a central system that he had.....will be fine just to re-wire them. But like I said I'll get my son to do it! Whats the point of having kids apart from using them to fill up Mummys wine glass and do the dangerous bits round the house

Lisa x

 

[Geoff1991]

I know, Im a (nearly) qualified electrician and im always doing stuff around the house

 

[divegirl]

Geoff....seeing as you're a 'nearly' qualified electrician.....can you give me a bit of advice please?

The weird shaped plugs have 6 amps written on them....so what amp fuse would I be best off using? 3, 5, 13?

Thanks

Lisa x

 

[Geoff1991]

It might be worth double checking the fuse size.

Find out what wattage the appliance is and divide it by 240. That is the fuse size you need, then use the lowest rated fuse that is greater than the number you have calculated.

If you get what i mean, i typed that 3 times and got myself confused

 

[divegirl]

Hmmmm....Cheers Geoff, that's about as clear as mud

For example....Eheim is 8 watts...divide that by 240 and you get 0.333333 recurring so would that mean a 3 amp fuse?

My brother reckons to just run it all from 13 amps!!!!! I might just try one of the cheaper items and see how it goes.....lol

Lisa x

 

[degsod]

Hmmmm....Cheers Geoff, that's about as clear as mud

For example....Eheim is 8 watts...divide that by 240 and you get 0.333333 recurring so would that mean a 3 amp fuse?

My brother reckons to just run it all from 13 amps!!!!! I might just try one of the cheaper items and see how it goes.....lol

Lisa x

3 amps is correct, do not use a 13 amp fuse because if there is a problem it maight take longer for the fuse to blow and possibly could cause problems.

 

[divegirl]

So seeing as they all had 6 amps written on them, shall I just use 3 amp on everything? What amp does a normal heater run on for example? Off to check mine now.....anyone else fancy checking theirs for me?

Lisa x

 

[rabbut]

I've never come across a piece of aquarium equipment that has required a fuse of more than 3A. In most instances, if you can find a difficult to source 1A fuse, that's the best to use for all you fish gear, unless it's over 240W (your heater for a 4' tank will likely need a 3A)

 

[degsod]

I've never come across a piece of aquarium equipment that has required a fuse of more than 3A. In most instances, if you can find a difficult to source 1A fuse, that's the best to use for all you fish gear, unless it's over 240W (your heater for a 4' tank will likely need a 3A)

Agreed with above a 100w heater is 0.41 amps so a 3 amp fuse is the max size I would put in

 

[divegirl]

Thank you both....lucky I bought a pack of 3 amp fuses today then!!!!!

Lisa x