Most stupid comment of the day

[NewOrder]

Was chatting to a girl who reckons she doesn't need a man because she can fix anything. She can even change fuses in a plug. I said to her can you calculate the required fuse given the size of the flex and the amount of current the appliance is likely to assume?

Her reply:-

Well what ever fuse is already in it stupid.

As a computer engineer constantly annoyed by the knock offs from China and even genuine products that have a 13 amp fuse it when the current it requires is less than 1 amp really really annoys me.

I know her comment was just out of ignorance but it just shows just how worrying these Chinese imports have become. Now don't even get me started on cheap power supplies or the fake laptop chargers Ebay sellers knock out etc.

Sorry just tired, and in need of a rant. Just sick of constantly having to replace the fuses on items I sell even from reputable manufacturers because they source a generic power cord which has a 13 amp fuse in, and nobody at the factory or importers bothers to change them to the correct one.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Oh dear, I'm sorry to rain on your parade.

can you calculate the required fuse given the size of the flex and the amount of current the appliance is likely to assume?

The 'size' of the flex (CCC) is the only relevant criterion.
The current drawn does not matter, assuming it is not greater.

As a computer engineer constantly annoyed by the knock offs from China and even genuine products that have a 13 amp fuse it when the current it requires is less than 1 amp really really annoys me.

If the CCC of the flex is >13A then all's well.

because they source a generic power cord which has a 13 amp fuse in, and nobody at the factory or importers bothers to change them to the correct one.

If it is correct for the cord there is no need.


Do you think we should have 0.25A fuses for a 60W inspection lamp?
If the equipment itself requires a small current fuse the manufacturer will have fitted one (extractor fans excepted of course).

 

[bernardgreen]

The construction of the appliance has to be considered when deciding on the fuse rating. Even if the cable is capable of carrying 13 amps the wiring in the appliance may not be capable of carrying 13 amps in a fault situation.

 

[JohnW2]

The construction of the appliance has to be considered when deciding on the fuse rating. Even if the cable is capable of carrying 13 amps the wiring in the appliance may not be capable of carrying 13 amps in a fault situation.

As you know, that's a point I'm always making as well. In an ideal world, all appliances would have appropriate internal protection for whatever (wiring and components) is inside them, in which case it would be reasonable to regard the fuse in the plug (or the OPD in the CU) as only protecting the cable. However, as we know, that is very often not the case - so it seems to make total sense to use the fuse in the plug to compensate for that deficiency.

Even when there is appropriate protection within the appliance, there's nothing wrong at all with 'belt and braces' - it just seems daft and unnecessary to me when I see something drawing a fraction of an amp having a 13A fuse in its plug!

Kind Regards, John

 

[footprints]

Perhaps she uses the original fuse wrapped in silver paper!!

 

[NewOrder]

I realise it is cable size, but I have seen many think 2 core figure of 8 cables etc with 13 amp fuses on it.

If I know the appliance is only going to ever consume around 100w what is the harm on putting in a 3 amp fuse even if the cable is 1.5mm flex? Surely regardless of cable size, a lower fuse rating is better. Obviously stuff like extension leads using 1.5mm need a 13 amp and the load will vary but I can't see how a printer should ever have a 13 amp fuse regardless of circumstances.

 

[ekmdgrf]

A very quick Google turned up the Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE 6275i a printer that may well be a candidate for a 13A fuse. The manufacturer states power usage as approximately 2400W or approx 10A.

I'm not really sure the comment in the OP qualifies as "most stupid comment of the day" but I think we certainly have a candidate for "most stupid thread of the day".

Probably more silly than the comment about the replacement fuse value was an attempt to demonstrate the ability to fix by pointing out that they can change a fuse. A bit like saying "I can cook anything, I can even make toast."

 

[securespark]

Then you have the ESC saying 0.75 is OK on a 13A fuse.

 

[NewOrder]

Certain specialist printers will consume a lot more than cheapo basic ones. Most I have seen are around 200w at the most. I was very tired when I made this thread and it was just something that annoyed me at the time. The woman was also telling me how she repaired her boiler and other things. I don't claim to be able to fix everything, this woman did.

I will never touch anything in the boiler because don't understand and don't claim to. As far as I am concerned the problem with incorrect cables and wrong sized fuses is a massive problem in the IT industry. Laptop chargers are a specific problem as they are so easy to fake. There is a poster on here who actually made a website dedicated to the issue.

I am not saying I go round always changing fuses, but I do check when I get a cable to make sure the fuse that is in it is the correct size.

 

[ekmdgrf]

Ahh, you met an annoying person. My advice would be to ignore them and remove them from your Xmas card list. If you need any further assistance, I think maybe try moving this thread into the DIY counseling forum.

 

[seasickstevie]

... I have seen many think 2 core figure of 8 cables etc with 13 amp fuses on it.

Can't remember seeing figure-of-8 mains flex for a long time. Is it still available?

 

[NewOrder]

If you mean this then yes

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1908...ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=95&ff19=0

I am not sure what the proper name of the connector is. Certainly many netbook FSP PSUs use them, and a lot of printers especially Epson use them too. My camera charger also uses the connector.

I am always short on those cables though for the some reason.

 

[JohnW2]

If you mean this then yes ... I am not sure what the proper name of the connector is. Certainly many netbook FSP PSUs use them, and a lot of printers especially Epson use them too. My camera charger also uses the connector.

I think you may have confused SNM (and others, like me!) a bit - what you wrote implied that you were talking about 'figure of 8' cable/flex - not 'ordinary' (round) cable/flex with a 'figure of 8' connector on the end!

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

deleted - I 'quoted' myself, rather than 'edited' in error!

 

[Spark123]

I think their name is an IEC C7.
I would be wary about buying cheap leads of eBay, maybe it is the camera angle but the plug doesn't look right to me.