Fuses

MouldyOldDough

We need to replace a fuse in a plug - but have no fuses

So - I intend to order some from Amazon for next day delivery

Is it worth paying more for known brands - such as SILVERLINE

or will the cheapest Chinese brands be just as good ?

Robin9

More important is that you put the right size in and not simply swop 13a for 13a when all it supplies is a table lamp.

What is the appliance ?

MouldyOldDough

Its a shredder (paper) with a 5a fuse fitted

Section62

MouldyOldDough said:

We need to replace a fuse in a plug - but have no fuses

So - I intend to order some from Amazon for next day delivery

Is it worth paying more for known brands - such as SILVERLINE

or will the cheapest Chinese brands be just as good ?

Proably not.  Cheap Chinese fuses may not comply with BS1362 - some have the wrong wire, some lack arc supression.  This is regardless of what the markings and packaging may say.

For that reason I wouldn't buy fuses from those sort of online sellers - there's just no way of being confident you are being sold genuinely compliant fuses.

I would buy online from reputable electrical suppliers, or in-store from DIY sheds or from supermarkets.

[Deleted User]

MouldyOldDough said:

Its a shredder (paper) with a 5a fuse fitted

Hi,

if you need to use shredder today then check another appliance with same size fuse, and swap, but remember to replace.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I thought shredders had a kinda heat control gadget, to cut out, so must be a fault with shredder that caused it to blow the fuse.

shiraz99

Why not pop down to your local Wilkos and pick up a variety of fuses. Don't buy cheap fuses from third-party sellers from Amazon.

Ectophile

There are some utterly shonky fuses out there, often fitted to Chinese-made appliances.  They may have been marked "BS1362", but don't come close to meeting any British Standard.

daveyjp

And as an MSE tip when you throw out any electrical items remove the fuse from the plug so you have a selection should one ever be required.

Ebe_Scrooge

daveyjp said:

And as an MSE tip when you throw out any electrical items remove the fuse from the plug so you have a selection should one ever be required.

I've got a couple of jam-jars in the garage filled with old fuses that I've collected over the years - easily a hundred or so.  My missus thinks I'm just a hoarder.  She's probably right actually - I find that these days, fuses never blow as the circuit-breakers (or whatever the proper name is) are so sensitive they trip long before the fuse has a chance to blow.

Years ago when the consumer unit had real fuses in it (I've even got a pack of proper fuse-wire kicking around that I used to use to re-wire them), then fuses in the appliances would blow.  But it never seems to happen these days.