I have recently moved into a house which has round pin plug sockets, which I am told can be used to plug in lamps to enable them to be switched on and off using the normal light switch. Please can someone advise on changing my lamp plugs from normal square pins to round pins? I recently bought some round pin plugs but they appear not to have fuses in them so I am not sure if they are compatible with my lamps - is it possible to buy fused round pin plugs? Do I need to? Thanks.
2006-08-19 23:06:00 · 17 answers · asked by Melly 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
The old round pin plugs did not have fuses you wire them the same Earth if it has one to the middle live to the right as you look at the plug and neutral to the left but if I was u they were changed years ago as they were dangerous please get a professional to check them out
2006-08-19 23:21:50 · answer #1 · answered by paul s 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Round Pin Plug
2016-11-12 01:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First you need to be absolutely sure that the wiring in modern (not prewar) and that these sockets really do connect through the lighting circuit.
If all is OK, the wires go into the plug the same way around as for a 13 amp plug. The earth (green/yellow) goes to the big pin at the top. The live (brown) goes to the pin on the right (looking at it from the back of the plug) and the neutral (blue) goes to the pin on the left. There is no fuse since the lighting circuit has (should have!) a 5 amp circuit breaker on your main consumer unit.
2006-08-19 23:14:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES you can get round pin fused (2 amp) plugs. MK list number is 639. Moletrap is correct, the sockets should be 2 amp 3 pin not 5 amp 3pin. if fed from a lighting circuit. This is normal practice for 'remote' control of sockets for LIGHTS ONLY. You do not need to use fused plugs though, as long as the circuit is protected by a 5amp c.b. DO NOT change the outlet plates to 13 amp as suggested above, as this will allow someone in the future to plug in a heavier load which will at least trip the breaker and at worst start a fire from overloaded lighting wiring etc.
2006-08-20 06:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moletrap is right, Those outlets you refer to are available now, I have some, rated at 5amp. The plugs, and the three hole configuration in the wallplate, are smaller than the usual old 15amp round pin plugs. Intended as you say, only for lighting. They have no facility for a fuse but your lighting circuit main fuse/mcb gives you the overload/tripping protection at 5/6amp. Just check they are definitely connected to a lighting circuit fused at 5/6amp. They will be ok for your lamps.
p.s. MK small round pin plugs/sockets are rated at 2 OR 5amps.Intended for lighting applications. I have only used 5amp The plugs you have bought presumably match the already fitted sockets ok, so only you know whether they are 2 or 5amp :-) With the absence of a fitted fuse, a 2amp rated plug on a 5/6 amp rated circuit has the potential to be overloaded and over heat, without the fuse/mcb blowing/tripping, whereas a 5amp does not, in my view.
2006-08-20 03:54:03 · answer #5 · answered by Dick s 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The main problem you have is not the round pin sockets, but the wiring behind the sockets. Square pin plugs and sockets were routinely introduced over 40 years ago. If you still have round pins, it suggests the property has not been rewired for at least this length of time, meaning the wiring is probably in a highly dangerous condition - you need to see an electrician right away, mate !
2006-08-19 23:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I note that many of the answers refer to the old style 5A/15A socket outlets, which would be over 40years old, I would be surprised if you have these.
What you have by the sounds of it is, 2A socket outlets controlled by a switch at the door to enable you to have your table lamps come on together, rather than switching individually, this is a modern concept. Protection for these sockets will be provided by your lighting circuit in the fuse box, 2A plugs do not require individual fusing.
Hope this of some use.
Regards, John (Electrical Engineer)
2006-08-20 01:03:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are NO fuses in round pin plugs. Wire in the same manner as square pin type. ie when looking into the opened plug the live is on the right the yellow/green(earth) is the bigger diameter pin
2006-08-20 04:48:27 · answer #8 · answered by xenon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your wiring is about40/50yrs out of date everything should updated. Get a qualified electrician before attempting to do anything yourself. All plugs & sockets are square pin nowadays
2006-08-22 09:08:48 · answer #9 · answered by IKnownothing 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If I was you, I would get a qualified electrician to look at anything with round pins on. The round pins were discontinued years ago...in the 60's or 70's I think, so anything with round pins could be quite dangerous!
2006-08-19 23:12:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋