BS 1363 13 A plug tops

Are all cables adequately restrained by the cord grip?

Are the terminals inside not overfilled ?

If both of these are true, it is not dangerous. I agree it is a bit ugly.

Or,  ‘incept’ multiway plugs are a  nice solution but only low current, and a faff to fit.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wellco-Incept-into-multiway-adaptor/dp/B002KY70YI

Or these https://www.toolstation.com/adaptor/p24688? of course, the dreaded unfused cube.

Mike.

BS 7671 does not necessarily apply.

However, if it's a workplace, I think PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and Electricity at Work Regulations ("strength and capability of electrical equipment") may well be brought up if there's an issue, if only because the plug is being used outside of the product standard / manufacturer's specification.

There are relatively inexpensive products that would enable the BS 1363 plug to be used safely, within it's specification, and connect to two appliances, for example:

• 2-way extension lead.
• 2-way adaptor (as Mike pointed out).
• Y-splitter BS 1363-1 plug to IEC 60230 C13 coupler (and fit C14 couplers to the chargers).

Appendix 6 of the latest (5th) edition of the IET Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and testing of Electrical Equipment states under appendix 6 (user checks and formal visual inspection) ‘Only one flex connected into one plug, unless it is specifically designed to accommodate more than one flex.’.

Clearly this is a code of practice, and not a formal regulation, but if you want something to point to then you can use this.  It is not good practice.

Pragmatically, as Mike said, if the cables are adequately secured by the cord grip (may be difficult to ensure given they are designed for a single cable) and the cables are small such that the conductors properly sit in the terminals and you are sure there is good contact with both then you may not deem it to be ‘unsafe’ but there are better solutions that avoid this particular shade of grey.

Can the socket be fitted with a conversion socket to change it to a twin?

Use a short extension cable (say  0.3-0.5m) with a twin outlet on the end to allow the split.

Gland both cables and a supply cable into a small junction box.

Change the 13A plugs for IEC C13 plugs, and use a pre-moulded 13A - 2 x IEC ‘Y’ cable.

Personally I would favour solutions that don't join the wires together in a fixed way - much better for maintenance and isolation purposes if there is an issue with one of the chargers and not the other.

Jason.

Edit: - My post crossed with Graham's!

I am not aware of any specific prohibition, but there is a general requirement to follow the suppliers instructions.

All the instructions that I have ever seen state only one flexible cord to be connected to a plug. It is unlikely that the instructions can be located, but it seems a reasonable assumption that the plug was only intended for a single flex.

To rectify, install an extra socket, or use a multi outlet extension cord, or use a multiway adaptor. I am not keen on the last two options for heavy loads but either should be fine for car battery chargers.

Due23: 
 

I need to find the regulations which permit or prohibit the wiring of two mains voltage devices into a single 13 A plug top. I have a C & G 2377 PAT certificate and am looking to test some equipment for a local model Railway  club. 

I noticed that they have a couple of places where they have wired two 12 volt ‘car battery’ chargers into a single 13 A plug top. This just does not look right but I don't know where the ‘regulations’ state this.

Assuming it is not correct, what would be the easiest way to wire this correctly? Certainly in one place there is only a single outlet socket available currently.

Just why would you do that? It makes little sense.

Z.

Due23: 
 

I need to find the regulations which permit or prohibit the wiring of two mains voltage devices into a single 13 A plug top. I have a C & G 2377 PAT certificate and am looking to test some equipment for a 

Assuming it is not correct, what would be the easiest way to wire this correctly? Certainly in one place there is only a single outlet socket available currently.

Click on this please

4 Way Rewireable Trailing Mains Socket (farnell.com)

Z.

You are aware of that little card affixed to 13 Amp plugs that gives wiring instructions? Yes. Well, how may conductors does it show? If the appliance is to be earthed the conductors are three in total. If the appliance is a class 2 appliance it needs two conductors connected. B.S. 7671 requires us to take manufacturers' instructions into account. The plugs are designed for just one appliance to be connected.

Also,

How do you P.A. test appliances if they are connected in parallel? They need testing separately.

Z.

How do you P.A. test appliances if they are connected in parallel? They need testing separately

I don't see a problem - there are plenty of appliances that have one supply lead feeding two boxes (think some fancy clothes irons with a base unit/steam generator and a separate hand-held iron just for one example). Test as you would with a centre-fed radial circuit - i.e. test both and record the worst.

   - Andy.

I came across the opposite problem on a lab safety audit. A hot air gun had been modified so that the blower was fed from one 13A plug and the heater was fed from another via a temperature controller. Maybe no problem but the sockets on the lab bench were fed in sequence from the 3 phases. It was possible items that were expected to be at the same potential were at 400V?

Thanks for all your quick responses. I now have the information I need to do the job. As I expected everyone had something useful to offer.

As ‘Zoomup’ said in the first instance, all instructions on wiring a BS 1363 plug top always show a single cable being wired; but more importantly, perhaps, from an appliance testing point of view,  each device has to be tested separately. This means each appliance must have its own plug top.

I noticed that the ‘four cables into one plug’ is no longer on sale at Amazon.