Extending electric fire place cable

alirob12

Hi, i have a nice electric fire place heater with a flame like effect, the only problem i have the wire is too short to stretch to the socket. Has anyone got any ideas how i could easily extend the wire please? I cant take off the back panel - so would need to (i think) cut the wire and extend it that way... welcome your thoughts please. Thankyou

adandem

Can you remove the plug and extend it using connectors?

alirob12

can i just use normal connectors of do i need 'special' ones for the fire? Thanks

Jonesya

A good quality extension lead is probably easiest but if you must extend the cable use a flex connector but as it's a fire (which draw a lot of current) make sure you check the flex connector is rated for 13A. For the cable, again check it's rated for 13A so minimum 1.5mm2.

Oh and whatever you do, DONT use terminal blocks and insulating tape, it's a bodge and isn't safe. There's no strain relief so nothing to stop you pulling the cable out and getting a shock.

http://www.wilko.com/electrical-accessories/wilko-flex-connector-3-core/invt/5352740

adandem

I'm not entirely sure, you may need to replace the entire wire? I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along shortly.

rustyboy21

A lot of electric fires these days are fitted with an electric kettle type plug fitting, so it would just be a matter of going into your nearest Maplins and buying a longer cable with the fittings attached.


If not, just use a single socket extension cable for it. It is only a 13 amp plug on the end. Get one longer than the distance required and you can put the socket behind the fireplace out of sight and just have a single cable against the skirting board.


There is nothing technical involved with it being a fire.

cyclonebri1

alir!!!2 wrote: »

Hi, i have a nice electric fire place heater with a flame like effect, the only problem i have the wire is too short to stretch to the socket. Has anyone got any ideas how i could easily extend the wire please? I cant take off the back panel - so would need to (i think) cut the wire and extend it that way... welcome your thoughts please. Thankyou

WWWhy, that's what you need to do.

You do not want an extension cable with it's related resistance issues in the circuit

Ectophile

I would just go for a 3 terminal 13A flex connector. I used one on a kettle lead, and it worked fine for years.

DevCoder

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

WWWhy, that's what you need to do.

You do not want an extension cable with it's related resistance issues in the circuit

Why would using an extension cable be any different to replacing the original cable with a new longer cable?

Unless you increased the CSA of the new cable of course, but how many people are going calculate resistance and voltage drops for the new cable length?

With a 1.5mm CSA, a H07 RNF cable can be up to 15m and still be within max voltage drop etc under BS7671