16A Socket
- Thread starter nry
- Start date
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Didnt know that, but it does sound like a 13amp plug would be enough.
Otherwise I would be looking at a 16amp FCU or spur to a combined RCBO and 16amp outlet*.
*Im sure ive seen one of these with a RCBO in it, but cant find it online anywhere so maybe someone 'made' it.
http://www.electrika.com/products/m/man-0170/picsprod/9579.jpg
Daniel
If you mean 'FCU' in the conventional sense, you won't be able to find one of those, not the least because BS 1362 fuses >13A do not (or should not!) exist.
Kind Regards, John
There is no such thing as a 16amp FCU. FCUs can only take a BS1362 fuse and the max is 13amp.
You cannot do that from a ring circuit. The only options from a ring circuit are:
spur to a single socket outlet
spur to a double socket outlet
spur to an FCU (maximum fuse 13amp)
It would have to be a new circuit (eg 16amp radial) and that takes you back to where you started.
The picture you have shown is what may be used as a camping/caravan site supply point and not suitable for use in a domestic premises.
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Can someone please just clarify what the definition of 'shutter' actually is? I ask because does the cap as seen here not class as a shutter?
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK9201BLU.html
Was the original point of the regs not just to prevent exposed live terminals?
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MKK9201BLU.html
Was the original point of the regs not just to prevent exposed live terminals?
Shutters are opened by insertion of a plug. The point is, indeed, to avoid there being any touchable (or 'pokeable') live patrts - but once the hinged 'cap' of the socket you refer to is opened (which requires no tools), there are potentially 'touchable' (by poking something in) live parts.
Kind Regards, John.
Well there we have it, we're all doomed, and the op only needs 13amps....
Daniel
I thought I remembered that the "final batch" of 15A sockets (and 5A as well) had shutters over the L&N pins. So I had a web search, and sure enough, MK Logic
(http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/MK/SocketsRnd.pdf) sockets are shuttered.
That lead me on to checking out the French sockets, and, sure enough, like the German Schuko, they too are now shuttered, from what I can make of it, to comply with EU regulations. Strange how it took French and German regs 30 years or more to catch up with ours regarding shuttered sockets!
edit - Plugwash beat me to it!
(http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/MK/SocketsRnd.pdf) sockets are shuttered.
That lead me on to checking out the French sockets, and, sure enough, like the German Schuko, they too are now shuttered, from what I can make of it, to comply with EU regulations. Strange how it took French and German regs 30 years or more to catch up with ours regarding shuttered sockets!
edit - Plugwash beat me to it!
They still manufacture 5A and 15A sockets you know 
... and 2A ... and the MK 2A ones are also shuttered, but not with the fancy '3 pin safety shutter' that the 5A and 15A oines have.They still manufacture 5A and 15A sockets you know
Kind Regards, John
I asked earlier ...
But the obvious question one might consider is ... would this truly come under the description of "... for household and similar use ..." ? I think there's a strong argument that it wouldn't - I can't see many people fitting a huge blue plug to their iron or toaster
And since there are situation where a 13A socket (or FCU) isn't suitable, then I think there's a valid argument that they are allowed if that's the right tool for the job.
For example, we have two 16A sockets at our house - one outside in a box, one in the garage. They were put in because the welders like to blow 13A fuses for fun (and the one outside is where the caravan used to stand for storage). Both on domestic premises, but both there for a good reason.
While the OP has (IMO) overstated his requirements and thus he would be OK with a 13A plug, were his figures accurate then IMO an industrial socket would be appropriate since a large rack of computer gear isn't what I'd call normal "household and similar use".
Depending on the environment*, I would like to see something other than a normal non-interlocked outlet though - so a nice interlocked switch/outlet combo where you can't liven the socket tubes without a plug installed would certainly seem appropriate.
* For something mounted on the ceiling, and supplied through an RCD, I'd be less concerned that if it were near the floor and not RCD protected.
Why have a socket at all? A rack like that is hardly portable equipment - what would be wrong with the PDU being hard wired (with suitable cable restraint) to a 20A DP switch on a 16A radial?
Depending on the setup, you might need to roll it forward to gain access to the back for wiring.
Not quite a day to day need (to move it) but I'd have thought it's a greater danger to have screw terminals rather than a plug?
Not quite a day to day need (to move it) but I'd have thought it's a greater danger to have screw terminals rather than a plug?
Eh?
There's no problem whatsoever with screw terminals if they are accessible.
In any case, have you ever actually looked inside a plug?
How does the flex attach to the plugs pins? Yes - screw terminals
No, I meant if you have to roll it forward and back (and need to break the circuit to do so), it's better to have a connector that is designed to be taken apart than a screw connection.
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