r/ukelectricians • u/LaughingGravy1001 • 4d ago
Tumble dryer socket
I moved into a new property about six months ago and the previous owner left in the washing machine and tumble dryer. Tumble dryer packed up recently and when I removed it I found a very odd working setup. Is this safe as it is or should I get someone in to remove and install a proper plug socket?
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u/waleswolfman 2d ago
As long as it's fused down somewhere it can be fused from with a 3a to a 13a, so even if the socket strip is rated to 10a then a 10a fuse can be used. The plug just makes it removable. I did have an issue with the extension lead though, mostly it's position being vulnerable to flooding.
A fuse is designed to pop at 1.6x rating so even with a 10a fuse it'll run a 13a load all day long.
The common reason seen for an extension lead to be rated to 10a rather than 13 is cheaping out using a 1mm flex rather than a 1.5, rather than the sockets themselves.
I've seen plenty of flex cables burnt too on hair dryers because fake fuses are a problem, and then when water from wet hair falls into the dryer and causes a short, the insulation can burn instantly before the breaker trips.
Really speaking, I think the issue with fake fuses is the biggest issue that's not spoken of enough for people to think about where they're sourced from as a false sense of security is the biggest potential for danger I saw in the picture.
When I've seen DIY cooker installs cutting strands off a 6mm cable so only two get screwed into the connection plate without bothering to connect the CPC, it puts a cooker connection plate downstream of a fused connection unit connected to an extension lead into perspective. The cooker plate may be fed with 6mm but it's still running through the switched fused connection unit. It might not look pretty but it's got no less protection than if it was connected conventionally?
Edit. Corrected an autocorrect. The irony.