Very hot 13amp plug

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edited April 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1
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  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited April 2016 #2

    Wink , Hi   D.D .. Some plugs overheat if there is a loose screw where the wire is conected  or the fuse is arking.Good to check !!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited April 2016 #3

    It should not heat up lime that so I think something is wrong. If you cannot find a fault in the plug I would change it and try again. If that heats up there is a fault somewhere else that needs checking out.

  • HBHF
    HBHF Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited April 2016 #4

    The Alde heating draws  ˜14 A on 3 (3.2 kW) and ˜4.5 A on 1 (1 kW), ˜9 A on 2 (2.1 kW). could be the reason for the warm plug. 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2016 #5

    It should not get hot. The fuse will protect the cable and plug against overload.

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
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    edited April 2016 #6

    It's usually because the pins and/or fuse in the plug are tarnished and need cleaning with fine emery.  However since it is an EXTERNAL 13A socket, it is quite likely that the socket contacts are the guilty party.....and not likely to be easy to clean up. Fit a decent 16A outlet!

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited April 2016 #7

    Hi DD, is your 13amp adaptor cable between the plugs of the correct rating, I rather suspect you could have a three core 1.5mm length of cable as opposed to three core 2.5mm, just a thought....Cool

  • Unknown
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    edited April 2016 #8
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  • Toro
    Toro Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited April 2016 #9
    I think it was due to the amount of power you were drawing through the 13 amp socket. You would probably have been safer to run the Aldi on a lower setting, as you also have to  take the length of cable used between the 13 amp socket and the van into the
    equasion.  When on a site please ensure that your supply cable is fully unwound and any excess coiled in wide loops to  prevent it heating.
  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2016 #10
    I think it was due to the amount of power you were drawing through the 13 amp socket. You would probably have been safer to run the Aldi on a lower setting, as you also have to  take the length of cable used between the 13 amp socket and the van into the equasion.  When on a site please ensure that your supply cable is fully unwound and any excess coiled in wide loops to  prevent it heating.

    No. It's a faulty plug or plug wiring.

    Anyway, the Alde on maximum is not going to take 3kW all the time. The thermostat will cut out once the motorhome is up to temperature.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited April 2016 #11

    Surely the large draw of 3 kW even some of the time is why many of us uncoil the cord to stop over heating?  Makes sense to me that the plug might overheat too.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited April 2016 #12

    I use a 13 to 16amp adapter regularly and have never had a problem with the plug getting hot. I would check the tightness of the screws in your 13a plug, perhaps replace the plug with a newer / better one or perhaps replace the socket with a newer / better
    one. But also I always use gas and electricity to heat the van up in cold weather as the electricity alone is not quite up to the job and I find takes far too long by itself.

  • Unknown
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    edited April 2016 #13
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  • spk
    spk Forum Participant Posts: 406
    edited April 2016 #14

    most likely is as others have said a loose connection in the plug, I find it best practice to replace the plug with a good quality rubberised job. Under sized cable could have sme effect but 2.5mm is adequate so my mony is on plug.

    Ps

    sometimes the terminal connectors in the plug seem ok sometimes its the actual fuse holder that is at fault.

  • nelliethedog
    nelliethedog Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited May 2016 #15

    when i plug into the mains at home i always plug into the socket on the cooker curcuit which im sure is 30 amps and this cures any overloading issues

  • steve874
    steve874 Forum Participant Posts: 34
    edited May 2016 #16

    I'd check the terminals as some have suggested, also check that the plug is to the British standard with the kitemark, there are some cheap imported plugs out there

  • Mike Greenfield
    Mike Greenfield Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited May 2016 #17

    In short.  You have a fault at the 13amp plug end.  Check this first.  If it's the plug part replce at and make sure you cut off any discoloured cable from the lead to the caravan.  If it's the socket part you might need an electrician.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2016 #18
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  • Unknown
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    edited May 2016 #19
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  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #20

    my 'cheap, lightweight' extension cable plug gets hot after mowing two lawns.....like meWink

    it might be to do with cable rating...?

    its pretty thin, but wiry....like meWink

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2016 #21
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  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #22

    lol, love it....im building internal wardrobe fittings for mum/dad following house move on thursday......rather be washing the van.....Happy

  • Peter749
    Peter749 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    First Comment
    edited May 2016 #23

    A good way to check would be to run your Aldi heater at 2Kw on the same cable.  If the plug still gets hot then you have a fault somewhere.  If not then it is down to your heater drawing maximum current at a 13 amp socket for a protracted period.  Was the
    weather cold when you saw the problem?  It probably was so the heater was on nearly all the time drawing the full 13 amps.  On site you do not see the problem because you are on a 16 amp outlet but when you are at home I suggest you shold only use the 2 Kw
    setting.