Wago Style BS1363 Plug?

[eveares]

So I saw this on Facebook earlier and was wondering if anyone knows if (a) it's actually compliant with BS1363 despite the markings, (b) if you can still buy/get it, (c) and if so, from where?

From what I can tell, it looks like a quick connect "Wago" style BS1363 plug with a normal BS1362 fuse. Never seen such a thing before, so don't know much about it.

Kind Regards: Elliott.

 

[securespark]

There were at least two of these on the market in the 80s.

I remember seeing this one with the cover that slides on.

The other is here on flameport's website.

TL branded screwless 13A plug

White plastic TL brand BS1363 plug that can be fitted without using tools, features include screwless wire terminals and slide on lid

flameport.com

 

[plugwash]

Looking at it, my main concern would be how robustly the lid is retained. It seems to be relying on a relatively small notch in the plastic to prevent the lid being slid off without the use of a tool.

Also that earth wire is too short, but that is presumablly down to whoever wired the plug rather than the design of the plug itself.

 

[pete01]

Looking at it, my main concern would be how robustly the lid is retained. It seems to be relying on a relatively small notch in the plastic to prevent the lid being slid off without the use of a tool.

Also that earth wire is too short, but that is presumablly down to whoever wired the plug rather than the design of the plug itself.

Was just gonna say the earth wire is the shortest of the 3 when it should be the longest.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

I think I still have one of those in a cupboard somewhere! Did seem like a dubious idea at the time and still does!

 

[blup]

A 13amp plug that could be rewired using equal length strips and maintenance free connections would be a winner imo. Needs to be screwed on though.

 

[ericmark]

Also seems odd, fits a 13 amp socket, but the earth pin seems undersized, and no fuse, or any sign it has ever had a fuse, must be old, no insulation on live pins.

I will have a guess, my father-in-law was the electrical engineer for a hospital board, and seem to remember some live dependent machines had no fuses, as a fuse blowing could result in a death, a name has be ground off it, maybe it said property of someone, and not marked BS 1363.

How I ended up with it no idea.

 

[mikehammer69]

Manufacturers always be changing things that don't need changing

Can't see any advantages to it

The screwed connection on the 13A plug is reliable

Not a fan of those cord grips either

That cover hopefully a child can't slide that off

 

[morqthana]

A 13amp plug that could be rewired using equal length strips

I thought the ideal was a longer earth so that it would be the last one to pull out.

 

[morqthana]

The screwed connection on the 13A plug is reliable

What about sockets with screwless terminals?

 

[pete01]

What about sockets with screwless terminals?

Yes they are also reliable

 

[morqthana]

Yes they are also reliable

Are they a good thing? Or are they a change which wasn't needed? Do they have advantages?

 

[OwainDIYer]

View attachment 422119View attachment 422120View attachment 422121View attachment 422122View attachment 422123 Also seems odd, fits a 13 amp socket, but the earth pin seems undersized, and no fuse, or any sign it has ever had a fuse, must be old, no insulation on live pins.

I will have a guess, my father-in-law was the electrical engineer for a hospital board, and seem to remember some live dependent machines had no fuses, as a fuse blowing could result in a death, a name has be ground off it, maybe it said property of someone, and not marked BS 1363.

Portable x-ray machines for bedside use were allowed to have red unfused plugs - they drew a significantly higher current than 13A to power the x-ray tube, but only for a fraction of a second so there was considered to be no risk to the circuit cables.

Thread 'Strange Socket In Hospital'

7 Feb 2025

Saw this in my local hospital and wondered...

How...?
Why...?

Is it a special socket with two separate feeds?

• securespark
• Replies: 97
• Forum: Electrics UK

 

[mikehammer69]

I thought the ideal was a longer earth so that it would be the last one to pull out.

I think so .That was one of the first things I was taught in my apprenticeship training

 

[Ragnar_AT]

I think so .That was one of the first things I was taught in my apprenticeship training

Yes but you can arrange the terminals in such a way that the earth is the last to pull out even if all three conductors are cut to the same length.

Screwless sockets are faster to wire than screw terminals and are often thought to be more reliable because the spring pressure can compensate for the copper compressing under pressure. The German VDE allowed them in 1995 and within only a few years sockets with screw terminals had pretty much disappeared from the market, even though you can still get them on order from all major manufacturers.