Integrated fridge replacement, power source 3m away! Advice needed

essex_grl

Hi all. We have an integrated fridge that we need to replace. The kitchen and appliances were done by the previous owner. We have looked under the kickboard to find out where the fridge is powered to follow a wire 3m along the floor.
In the cupboard at the other end of the kitchen is the moulded original plug plugged into a socket.. that leads to a junction box which feeds another cable to the back of the fridge.
We cannot get a hard wired spur put in above the unit as we have granite worktops with a 6 inch backsplash up the wall so we are stuck needing a long run of cable.

Do we try to splice in a junction box again after cutting off the moulded plug? Do we try to remove the wires feeding the fridge to create one long cable or do we use an extension lead?

I do have a 3m, surge protected, 13A, single gang extension lead if that would be suitable.
Thank you!!

Keep_pedalling

A good quality extension lead?

essex_grl

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09XK7T8L4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one.

EssexExile

Cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Elec-Gang-Extension-Lead-white-neon/dp/B078Y4JNXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DL7YCZKRE074&keywords=extension+lead+3m&qid=1699538357&s=electronics&sprefix=extension+lead+3m,electronics,59&sr=1-3&th=1

essex_grl

EssexExile said:

Cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Elec-Gang-Extension-Lead-white-neon/dp/B078Y4JNXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DL7YCZKRE074&keywords=extension+lead+3m&qid=1699538357&s=electronics&sprefix=extension+lead+3m,electronics,59&sr=1-3&th=1

Thanks, the one I posted I already own. I was told that if I used that, I would need to change the plug on the fridge to a 13amp plug. Is that right?

CliveOfIndia

essex_grl said:

EssexExile said:

Cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Elec-Gang-Extension-Lead-white-neon/dp/B078Y4JNXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DL7YCZKRE074&keywords=extension+lead+3m&qid=1699538357&s=electronics&sprefix=extension+lead+3m,electronics,59&sr=1-3&th=1

Thanks, the one I posted I already own. I was told that if I used that, I would need to change the plug on the fridge to a 13amp plug. Is that right?

What's on the fridge at the moment - is it "bare wires" designed to be hardwired into a fused outlet?  If so then yes, you'd need to just stick an ordinary 13 amp plug onto it, then you can plug it into a standard extension lead.

essex_grl

CliveOfIndia said:

essex_grl said:

EssexExile said:

Cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Elec-Gang-Extension-Lead-white-neon/dp/B078Y4JNXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DL7YCZKRE074&keywords=extension+lead+3m&qid=1699538357&s=electronics&sprefix=extension+lead+3m,electronics,59&sr=1-3&th=1

Thanks, the one I posted I already own. I was told that if I used that, I would need to change the plug on the fridge to a 13amp plug. Is that right?

What's on the fridge at the moment - is it "bare wires" designed to be hardwired into a fused outlet?  If so then yes, you'd need to just stick an ordinary 13 amp plug onto it, then you can plug it into a standard extension lead.

We have a brand new fridge being delivered tomorrow which will have a lead and plug on it. I assume 13A plug but I could be wrong. If that is the case.. straight into the extension lead that I have which is 13A too?

CliveOfIndia

essex_grl said:

CliveOfIndia said:

essex_grl said:

EssexExile said:

Cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Elec-Gang-Extension-Lead-white-neon/dp/B078Y4JNXP/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DL7YCZKRE074&keywords=extension+lead+3m&qid=1699538357&s=electronics&sprefix=extension+lead+3m,electronics,59&sr=1-3&th=1

Thanks, the one I posted I already own. I was told that if I used that, I would need to change the plug on the fridge to a 13amp plug. Is that right?

What's on the fridge at the moment - is it "bare wires" designed to be hardwired into a fused outlet?  If so then yes, you'd need to just stick an ordinary 13 amp plug onto it, then you can plug it into a standard extension lead.

We have a brand new fridge being delivered tomorrow which will have a lead and plug on it. I assume 13A plug but I could be wrong. If that is the case.. straight into the extension lead that I have which is 13A too?

Yes, that'll be fine.  An ordinary fridge should run off a 13 amp supply, so that'll be fine.

Just take a bit of care where you run the extension lead, make sure it can't get kinked or pinched by any other appliances that may get shifted about.  You might even want to just clip it up along the wall or something, just so that it's out of the way, but that's not strictly necessary as long as you're a little bit careful about where you run it.

What you do always need to be careful about is using a very long extension lead that's coiled up on a reel - it should be fully uncoiled before you use it (otherwise there's a chance it can overheat).  But from what you've said, that doesn't appear to be applicable here - just something to bear in mind generally.

essex_grl

Thank you so much! I keep getting told different things and I'm so confused! The extension lead is only 3m so not coiled and needs to cover a 2m run minimum. It will run under the cupboards behind the kickboard, no sink on that side of the kitchen or plumbing.

So to clarify I am safe to plug the 13A plug that will come on the fridge into my extension lead that has also has a 13A plug on it that I will plug into a socket?

CliveOfIndia

essex_grl said:

So to clarify I am safe to plug the 13A plug that will come on the fridge into my extension lead that has also has a 13A plug on it that I will plug into a socket?

That will be perfectly safe.  When you say the fridge will come with a 13A plug fitted, I suspect you actually mean a standard 3-pin plug.  Depending on the power rating (wattage that it consumes), it could well have a lower-rated fuse fitted into the plug.  But that doesn't matter - what does matter is that the fridge won't pull more than 13 amps, which is what your extension lead is rated for.

It's when you try to run something that needs more power than what the extension lead is rated for that you can run into problems.  Even then, the fuse in the plug should blow, and/or the relevant circuit breaker should trip, so in theory you should be protected .........

But that's getting off topic somewhat - an ordinary fridge plugged into an extension rated at 13A will be absolutely fine.

essex_grl

Thank you!! Is volt drop something I need to be concerned about? Keep seeing that is a reason to not use an extension lead? It's going to be about a 4m run from back of the fridge to the socket.

volt drop can cause the overloads to fail on the compressor motor. - is what I read as to why extension leads aren't safe for fridges.