- These little chaps need no introduction, but the reason I am covering them is to help you understand why it's important to use the correct fuse for the appliance it's serving.
- Appliances power ratings differ, so it should come as no surprise that the fuse required for a kettle or washing machine needs to have a higher rating than a fuse for a table lamp.
- Here are some examples for guidance:
- 3A fuses would be needed for appliances up to about 670W, such as lamps, TVs, DVD players, computers, food mixers, blenders, fridges and freezers.
- 5A fuses would be needed for appliances between 670W and 1100W, which could include sandwich markers and grills such as those from the George Foreman range.
- 13A fuses would be needed for appliances above 1100W, which would include kettles, toasters, irons, washing machines, microwaves and most hair dryers.
- If you're not sure about a certain item and can handle a little bit of maths, take a look at the examples below. The way to work out what fuse you need is to take the power shown in Watts, and divide that by the voltage.
- The nominal voltage in a UK home is about 230V, so we can use this in our calculations below.
- Note that I have referred to 3A, 5A and 13A fuses. It is important to select the next one up from the calculated value.
Lamp rated at max 40W
40W ÷ 230V = 0.2A
Fuse needed = 3A
22" LCD TV rated at 50W
50W ÷ 230V = 0.22A
Fuse needed = 3A
Smoothie Maker Rated at 300W
300W ÷ 230V = 1.3A
Fuse needed = 3A
George Foreman Grill rates at 760W
760W ÷ 230V = 3.3A
Fuse needed = 5A
Vacuum cleaner rated at 1300W
1300W ÷ 230V = 5.7A
Fuse needed = 13A
Hair dryer rated at 2000W
2000W ÷ 230V = 8.7A
Fuse needed = 13A
Kettle rated at 3000W
3000W ÷ 230V = 13A
Fuse needed = 13A
- The Plug Top Fuses described here are to BS 1362
Will things still work if you use 13A fuses for everything?
- Yes, but that's not the point. If your smoothie maker develops a fault and a 3A fuse blows as a result, the fuse has done its job in taking away the danger. But if that smoothie maker has been fitted with a 13A fuse, there might not be enough current flowing to blow the 13A fuse, despite there being enough current flowing to be dangerous.
- So consider this...
When you next buy a mains plug, it will most likely be described as a 13A plug, and will indeed be fitted with a 13A fuse. And when you fit that plug to the end of lead connected to an appliance and switch it on, you would expect the thing to work. And it does, BUT...
If you have fitted that plug to a lamp, fridge, TV, or something which requires a lower rated fuse for reasons I have described above, you should consider swapping the 13A fuse for either a 5A or 3A.
This process is known as fusing down.
- And remember that if a fuse blows, it's not that the fuse was faulty. Something made it blow. If you replace a fuse and that blows too, you have a problem (possibly with the appliance) which will not be resolved by putting in a larger fuse.
- Under no circumstances should you ever use foil, paper clips, nails, or any other improvised method in place of the correct size fuse.
