Question on making my own electrical plug extension?

geordie_joe

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

My husband trained as a sparks and said he wouldn't advocate doing it yourself unless you have relevant training to do so.
If you are determined to try make sure that the cable is rated to twice the voltage or amperage that you think that you will be using.

Well, I was taught to change a plug in 1965, at the age of 5. I still remember my dad ending the lesson by telling me that if I did it exactly the way he'd shown me then I would be fine, but if I did it any other way then I WOULD DIE. There were no trip switches to save you back in those days.

Back in those days we never had enough plugs, they were too expensive! It was my job to take the plug off the washing machine and put it onto the hoover when mum needed to use the hoover. Or take the plug off the radio and put it onto the record player when one of my older sisters wanted to listen to records.

I've changed thousands of plugs over the years, and made my own extensions, in fact there was a time when extensions were only sold without cables and plugs. You had to add your own.

Even 4 years ago when I worked for the MOD the stores issued the blocks, the length of cable you needed and a plug. You had to put them together your self, and if you asked the storeman what would happen if you got it wrong he would reply "Don't worry, you'll only get it wrong the once".

It never ceases to amaze me that people will happily buy and use an appliance that has a plug fitted by a 7 year old kid in a sweat shop in the far east, but panick when a grown adult in this country mentions fitting a plug them selves.

Fitting a plug is simple, there are only three wires that are different colours, and the colour is written next to the terminal, so you can't get it wrong unless you try hard. All you have to do is make sure the right cable goes in the right hole and you have only exposed just enough cable to make the connecton.

You don't need training or qualifications, you just need common sense and the ability to check that you have done it right.

geordie_joe

savedmoney wrote: »

A multiplug is a little to complex

A multiplug is no more complicated than a single plug, you still only connect the same three wires.

savedmoney wrote: »

(Not to mention nowhere I went sold such a sleek looking 3 metre single plug extension)

Well done, you're now more than qualified to work in a far east sweatshop :rotfl:

Seriously tho, it wasn't hard was it?

Pink.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

savedmoney

geordie_joe wrote: »

A multiplug is no more complicated than a single plug, you still only connect the same three wires.

See what you mean, the only thing is in practice these days I doubt they sell multiplug sockets, I didn't bump into any during my shopping.

As far as multiplugs go I only ever use the ones that are individually switched and the best for that I have found is the Micromark 4 plug and 6 plug sold at Wilkinsons back in 2005 not sure about now.

geordie_joe wrote: »

Seriously tho, it wasn't hard was it?

No, it was just a case of follow the picture for the plug
eg: cut wires to 22mm 6mm for Blue



Whilst the socket had similar guidance for the lengths of wires required printed into the back.
I had a little wire crimper tool lying around as well before I found that I was using a pair of pliers and a finger nail clipper to gently cut the wire.

wallbash

A bit of common sense from geordie joe

WE need to teach kids these days to be a bit more useful
and starting with 'playing ' with plugs

he wouldn't advocate doing it yourself unless you have relevant training to do so.

Where will it end ...... calling in a 'sparks' to change a light bulb???

DVardysShadow

savedmoney wrote: »

Thanks to all.

Yes I am only looking to make a single plug extension.
A multiplug is a little to complex and as mentioned by posters sold at cheap prices.
The idea only came to me as generally single plug extension leads are not really sold at the places I tried or where they are the single socket at the end is unnecessarily bulky or the length of the cable was too long or short for my specific needs.

I will only use the 1.5mm2 wire (which is 3 core so contains earth)
This was sold at Wilkinsons by the metre at around 45p/metre or £16.95 for a 50m roll.

So to make my 3 metre extension with the cost of the plug and socket total cost £2.79
(Not to mention nowhere I went sold such a sleek looking 3 metre single plug extension)

MoneySaving Old Style
or is that
Old Style MoneySaving :money:
Thanks to all.

BUT you say that 1.5mm^2 is only rated at 6A, yet you intend to use a washing machine [13A] on it?

That may be saving a penny too far.

ormus

you can remember your lessons in physics surely?




hence a 6 amp cable is only good for 1440 watts.
(6 x 240v).

ormus

ps.
a washing machine is a bit odd. in that it uses say 250 watts to wash but 500 watts to spin. and then 2kw (maybe more) to heat the water!
hence the 6 amp cable is not suitable.

savedmoney

DVardysShadow wrote: »

BUT you say that 1.5mm^2 is only rated at 6A

No I mentioned in first post it is 16amp, generally 1.5mm2 is 15 or 16amp.

As for the point about using the 0.75mm2 wire which is 6amp, I think it is clear now, for the purposes of making an extension use the 1.5mm2 whatever electrical product you intend to use the extension for especially if you intend to use it for a washing machine.

macman

Surely it's not good practice to run a high power device like a washing machine (as ormus says, can be 2KW or more on the heating cycle) permanently off a plug socket, let alone off a plug socket and then an extension lead?
Much better to fit and use an FCU near to the device.