Cheap Chinese adapters

[Howard H]

A friend just sent this picture of a cheap Chinese adapter not sure what he had plugged in to it but it could have gone horribly wrong if they weren’t in at the time .

 

[Minxy]

One reason why I NEVER leave anything on charge when we're out (of our house or MH) nor over night.

 

[Minxy]

A friend just sent this picture of a cheap Chinese adapter not sure what he had plugged in to it but it could have gone horribly wrong if they weren’t in at the time .

Out of interest can you ask him what was plugged in?

 

[SpeedyDux]

Not suitable! Sweet and Sour electrics only!

 

[Stealaway]

It could also have been a cheap Chinese plug. Unfortunetly almost every body now fits and sell Chinese plugs and adapters.
It probably had a 2kw heater in it keeping the van warm on EHU

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[Howard H]

Out of interest can you ask him what was plugged in?

He says a small fan heater ,obviously to big for the adapter but out interest are the adapters load rated ?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

A friend just sent this picture of a cheap Chinese adapter not sure what he had plugged in to it but it could have gone horribly wrong if they weren’t in at the time .

Even a small fan heater is 1 Kw and it has a 13 amp fuse whereas the adaptor would probably be unfused anyway .
Be interesting to see the adaptor pins,probably 2 pin Euro style.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I've got a couple in use, one on a Chinese dab+ radio and the other on my bench power supply. Wouldn't use one on anything high power.

 

[steve69]

Big question is - Why didn't the fuse trip/blow?

 

[stevewagner]

Big question is - Why didn't the fuse trip/blow?

Because they were not overloaded enough. If the adapter was only rated at 5 amps (if at all) it will over heat long before the 13amp fuse or 16amp mcb would trip

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[meanders]

Because the trip will most likely be rated at 30 or 32 Amp as it's for the whole ring. That will take a significant over-current before tripping.

The fuse in the plug is downstream so is never going to blow.

The adaptor is one designed to take many different pin shapes and configuration s meaning none will have an ideal connection so less metal in contact means higher resistance and therefore heat.

Edit. stevewagner beat me to it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The fuse in the plug is downstream so is never going to blow.

A fuse can be anywhere in a circuit because the current is the same, and it will blow

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Perhaps cutting off the 3 pin and swapping to suit the requisite socket would have avoided that?
Mike.

 

[mofurt]

They are horrible things. For many years as a frequent traveller I've take a good quality 4 way extension board with me on travels. One has the 13A plug removed and is made up going into a good quality Schuko plug for use in Europe. The other goes to a male IEC ("kettle plug"), so I can use commonly available local plug to IEC cables. I don't trust really cheap Chinese plastic mouldings at all.

 

[meanders]

A fuse can be anywhere in a circuit because the current is the same, and it will blow

Yes but only to the point that the adaptor gets to an effective short as the burning plastic conducts the power. Remember also that a 13A fuse will comfortably pass 20A continuously without blowing.

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