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Ever thought about ... ?

gkenyon
I was asked a series of interesting questions this week about fault protection and overload protection for a particular application. Some of these really make you think, and the physics doesn't always lead you where you think you'd go.


Dropping out of all this, was me pointing out something interesting which I wonder whether it's ever crossed the minds of contributors to this Forum ... so here goes.


Ever thought about what, in typical UK installations, protects the electronics in a plug-in [to a standard BS 1363-2 socket-outlet] phone charger / wall-wart type power converter against:

(a) Fault current (consider both cases of L-N and L-PE); and

(b) Overload current ?




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    Small plug top power supplies are MEANT to incorporate a small fuse or other device giving similar protection. I suspect that most units incorporate no such protection and can therefore fail with considerable violence and fire risk.


    I avoid plugging such items directly into a fixed socket outlet on a 30 amp circuit, preffering an extension lead with a 3 amp fuse in the plug.
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  • 0
    Small plug top power supplies are MEANT to incorporate a small fuse or other device giving similar protection. I suspect that most units incorporate no such protection and can therefore fail with considerable violence and fire risk.


    I avoid plugging such items directly into a fixed socket outlet on a 30 amp circuit, preffering an extension lead with a 3 amp fuse in the plug.
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