10amp flat 3 pin Italian plug with 13amp UK plug

[Reedswood]

As stated above; I've an Italian appliance which has a flat 3 pin 10amp plug on it; I'm getting an UK adaptor, but do I have to change the 13amp fuse in the adaptor to a 10amp, as I don't want to damage the espresso machine?

thanks for your time!

 

[jj4091]

Yes, it would be advisable though probably wouldn't make much difference.

 

[winston1]

Much better, safer, and cheaper, to remove the Italian plug and fit a UK one.

Adapters generally don't conform to any countries regulations and the rare ones that can take a three pin Italian plug often don't provide an earth connection to the centre pin.

 

[AndyPRK]

I knew if I lived long enough I would agree with Wiston one day

 

[ban-all-sheds]

do I have to change the 13amp fuse in the adaptor to a 10amp, as I don't want to damage the espresso machine?

Leaving the fuse at 13A could not damage the machine.

 

[securespark]

I knew if I lived long enough I would agree with Wiston one day

Burger that!

Disagree anyway out of principle....

 

[Jackrae]

The Italian plug has no fuse in it so offers no protection to the machine. Any protection device requirements that the manufacturer considers necessary will be built into the machine itself. The fuse in a UK style plug is there to protect the cable between the plug and the appliance - though others will disagree.

 

[jj4091]

The Italian plug has no fuse in it so offers no protection to the machine. Any protection device requirements that the manufacturer considers necessary will be built into the machine itself. The fuse in a UK style plug is there to protect the cable between the plug and the appliance - though others will disagree.

I can't say that I am familiar with Italian plugs ,but if it is rated to 10A & fuseless, then presumably the cable is the same & a 10A fuse should be fitted to the adaptor

 

[winston1]

The Italian plug has no fuse in it so offers no protection to the machine. Any protection device requirements that the manufacturer considers necessary will be built into the machine itself. The fuse in a UK style plug is there to protect the cable between the plug and the appliance - though others will disagree.

I can't say that I am familiar with Italian plugs ,but if it is rated to 10A & fuseless, then presumably the cable is the same & a 10A fuse should be fitted to the adaptor

Like most of Europe Italian sockets will probably be on a 16 amp or 20 amp MCB anyway.

Italian plugs are the least safe of the 6 types commonly found in Europe. A good reason to change it.

They don't have partially insulated pins like UK and Europlugs.
They don't have recessed sockets like German and French types.
They are not polarised like French, Swiss, Danish, and UK types.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I can't say that I am familiar with Italian plugs ,but if it is rated to 10A & fuseless, then presumably the cable is the same & a 10A fuse should be fitted to the adaptor

Why?

Is the cable so small that a 13A fuse won't provide fault protection?

 

[Jackrae]

I agree with BAS. Whatever circuit breaker feeds the socket, then that's what the cable should be rated at. The difference between UK thinking on protection (fused at point of use) to that elsewhere in the "federation"

 

[ericmark]

I looks to have sleeves on the pins to me? Also the adaptors

do seem to include the earth pin, I would agree that some universal adaptors may not connect the earth pin, but that applies what ever conversion it to and from, the dedicated Italian to UK seems to do the job A1.

 

[jj4091]

I can't say that I am familiar with Italian plugs ,but if it is rated to 10A & fuseless, then presumably the cable is the same & a 10A fuse should be fitted to the adaptor

Why?

Is the cable so small that a 13A fuse won't provide fault protection?

Who knows? I did say in my first reply that it probably would not make much difference.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So why did you say "a 10A fuse should be fitted to the adaptor"?

 

[winston1]

I looks to have sleeves on the pins to me? Also the adaptors

do seem to include the earth pin, I would agree that some universal adaptors may not connect the earth pin, but that applies what ever conversion it to and from, the dedicated Italian to UK seems to do the job A1.

Interesting, I've not seen sleeves on Italian plugs before, it must be a recent thing. Tho one on the left is the larger version and won't fit in the adapter you show.

The clamp on adapter you show I've not seen before with an earth connection, they normally have plastic earth pins and won't take Italian plugs. A quick google doesn't find it either, nor is it readily available in supermarkets or DIY sheds.

At the end of the day it is still better to cut off the Italian plug and fit a UK one.