How to connect 20amp to mains

[Naturegroup]

Hi, I’ve got a 240v 4500 watt heating element and am trying to figure out how to safely connect it to mains, thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Naturegroup]

 

[Murdoch]

What do the manufacture instructions say?

 

[Naturegroup]

It didn’t come with any instructions unfortunately, got it off Amazon from China: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08L76R75Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[Murdoch]

So you will need a dedicated new circuit from your fuseboard

 

[Naturegroup]

So you will need a dedicated new circuit from your fuseboard

Okay thanks! Is there anyway I could DIY that? What amps would the circuit have to be?

(Is it an idiot proof task)

 

[Murdoch]

Okay thanks! Is there anyway I could DIY that?

(Is it an idiot proof task)

No

And definitely not.

 

[kerching]

The fuse in that plug will probably last about 7 seconds

 

[Naturegroup]

The fuse in that plug will probably last about 7 seconds

Yea that’s what confuses me what is the point of a 16amp abb adapter in the first place if the fuse is only going to be 13 amp

 

[Andy™]

Yea that’s what confuses me what is the point of a 16amp abb adapter in the first place if the fuse is only going to be 13 amp

well 20a is still above 16 of the other plug anyway so still useless....

 

[kerching]

Yea that’s what confuses me what is the point of a 16amp abb adapter in the first place if the fuse is only going to be 13 amp

I wouldn't say the sellers/importers are thicker than mince and doubt if it has a CE mark. I think if there is no CE mark then it may possibly be illegal to sell in the uk.
This is where we need @Sidewinder

 

[poni]

who fitted the flex and blue 16A plug?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

It didn’t come with any instructions unfortunately, got it off Amazon from China: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08L76R75Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

No instructions??
Very much doubt it has been tested to confirm compliance with any UK electrical safety legislation..

e.g.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...uipment-safety-regulations-2016-great-britain

From the above have a read of bullit point 6 under

Obligations of manufacturers​

The manufacturer must ensure that the equipment is accompanied by instructions which are clear, legible and in easily understandable English.

And as electricity can kill a healthy adult in less than a second, attempting to connect any electrical items that do not comply with UK legislation is a bit of a dubious practice, especially if you have any loved one's you care for, or who care for you!
As such I would recommend you package it back up post it back to the supplier and ask for a refund!


(Had a related situation with a customer a few weeks ago, who asked me to put up some wall lights they had bought via Amazon / ebay..
Chinese cheap tat, No UK compliant markings or instructions etc.. So I told them to get a refund and purchase a legitimate UK compliant product instead. Which they did. )

Also in my personal opinion any competent person on a forum such as this, would be negligent in their own personal duty of care if they were to offer any advice as to connecting these types of dubious non-compliant cheap Chinese electrical items...

"IF" it were to be connected, it would need a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit with cable, connectors, protective devices etc.. ALL capable of carrying 20A load, whilst also meeting volt-drop requirements and any other correction factors on the cable capacity related to its installation method(s). AND someone willing to sign the declaration on an electrical certificate to say they have designed, installed & tested it to prove it complise with current wiring regulations (BS7671).

 

[Sidewinder]

I would be very surprised if that equipment is legal for the UK market.
Amazon are renowned for supplying illegal goods via the marketplace and ducking out of responsibility.
Which then falls on the buyer, becoming the legal entity responsible for the manufacture and import, and all the legal requirements there of.

 

[Murdoch]

Legal or not it’s flowing into the U.K. and nothing will stop it

 

[roys]

About 15 years ago for Christmas my wife got me log splitter which is what I asked for, fitted with a 13 A plug. Went to use it and plugged it into an extension, it blew the fuse in the extension, so just out of interest I checked the fuse on the log splitter mmmm a bit lump of wire just wrapped round the fuse terminals, clever these Chinese manufacturers that they solve the issue of the log splitters drawing more than 13A yet supply it with a 13A plug.
I just fitted a 16A commando plug which plugs into its own circuit in my workshop, but fairly certain that it should not be supplied like that to the UK market.