Fuse rating on music centre

[chrbb]

We've lost the lead (surprise surprise) to our portable Carlsbro wanderer music centre. I have lots of spare kettle leads but can't work out what fuse to use.

 

Nothing in users guide, but under the socket on the unit it says

 

Fuse rating T2ah 250v 210va max

 

Clear as mud to me, 5, 10 or 13 amp?

 

Cheers

[jinnantonnixx]

 

Clear as mud to me, 5, 10 or 13 amp?

 

Cheers

 

None of the above! You need a 2A fuse. It's telling you that you need a slow-blow fuse which allow momentary spikes above the rated value.

 

Ask for a T2ah fuse.

Edited March 29, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[Marci]

That to me says it has an internal 2a slowblow, so I'd put a 3a or 5a in the plug.

[jinnantonnixx]

You're quite right, Marci.

The question was about the plug, not the appliance. Ignore my reply.

[chrbb]

Lol, found it being used with a 13 amp fuse.

[ToyHeartsFan]

3 amp for appliances rated up to 750 watts

5 amp for appliances rated over 750 watts up to 1.2KW

13 amp for appliances over 1.2KW

 

You can get smaller fuses than 3 amp but they aren’t very common and not so easy to get hold of.

 

210va = your appliance is drawing less than 1 amp so put a 3 amp fuse in the plug.

[chrbb]

Until I get to the shops then can it be used with a 5amp fuse in the plug. (sorry really dim day)

[ToyHeartsFan]

Until I get to the shops then can it be used with a 5amp fuse in the plug. (sorry really dim day)

 

Yes thats fine.

 

Your equipment is protected by an internal 2 amp fuse which will blow before the one in the plug does if a fault develops. The fuse in the plug is only really protecting the cables before the power gets to the internal fuse incase it gets damaged in someway.

 

Because of the internal fuse the fuse in the plug is not as critical although it is good practise to have one rated as low as possible.

 

Note: Fuses are generally there to protect the equipment from further damage if a fault develops, having the wrong rated fuse can increase the risk of a fire starting as the power drawn if a short develops can exceed the ratings of the cables / components. The mains fuse offers little protection to people from electrical shocks as they don't blow fast enough and the current ratings are too high which is why we use RCDs in consumer units these days which trip at around 30ma.