Sage-Tips

Is it safe to plug a tumble dryer into an extension lead?

An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload it. Remember high wattage appliances such as irons or hairdryers should not be plugged into the spare sockets on an extension as they can easily overload them.

How many watts can a 13 amp extension cord handle?

You can run up to 2300 Watts with the 10 Amp extension and 3000 Watts with the 13 Amp extension.

What amp plug does a tumble dryer need?

13 Amp
The tumble dryer will have a 13 Amp fuse in the plug that’s plugged into this sockets, connected via this approx 3 feet of mains cable to another plug with a 13 Amp fuse, and plugged into a ring main power sockets.

Can I run a tumble dryer and washing machine off an extension lead?

The appliance should not be connected by an extension lead. These can become a fire hazard. Always plug a washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, or any appliance with a heating element inside, directly into a wall sockets.

Can I keep a tumble dryer in the shed?

Yes you can put it in the shed. Assuming that there is power in there and it is done correctly… You need to make sure that it is well sat so it can’t knock the walls/floor about and definitely put a vent in, preferably directly to the outlet of the drier.

What would cause a tumble dryer to trip the electric?

The fan motor is faulty The fan motor circulates the hot air inside your tumble dryer. Fan motors can sometimes develop electrical leaks and cause the power to trip. Plug the appliance back in and check to see whether it still trips the power. If it doesn’t, you will need to replace the motor.

Why does my 13 amp plug get hot?

Overloaded Plug People assume that a 13A plug can take just that – 13A (3,000W). However, in reality the maximum safe limit is 12.6A (2,900W) and only for a short period of time, such as when boiling a kettle. Over longer periods loads as high as 2,900W will lead to the plug becoming warm.

How many appliances can be plugged into an extension lead?

You should only plug in 4 appliances if their combined power draw is no more than the capabilities of the adaptor.

What appliances use 13 amp fuse?

Plugs for appliances rated between about 700 watts and 3000 watts (the maximum rating of a wall socket) should be fitted with a 13-amp fuse (coloured brown). For example: 13A Fuse – Washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, iron.

Should tumble dryer plugs get warm?

Because some of the power the appliance receives is lost to waste heat, the plug may become warm to the touch. A plug that is hot to the touch, however, may pose a danger to you and your home.

Is it OK to plug a washing machine into an extension lead?

The reason that it is not ideal to plug a washing machine into an extension cable is because it introduces an extra risk of electrical overheating. There is also an added danger that because these extension leads have multiple sockets it is very easy to dangerously overload one.

Can I plug 2 extension leads into a double socket?

Yes it is. You should never ‘daisy-chain’ extension leads together. If you use more than one extension lead per socket it will significantly raise the risk of overloading the socket.

How many amps does a tumble dryer plug into?

Given that the tumble dryer will have a 13 amp fuse in the plug that’s plugged into this socket, connected via this approx 3 feet of mains cable to another plug with a 13 amp fuse, and plugged into a ring main power socket.

Why can’t I plug my dryer into a 2 way adapter?

The reason may lie in the fact that the current draw from the dryer will overload any diy extension lead, plus any socket with a 2 way adaptor means that the adaptor will most likely have something else plugged into it as well as the dryer, which could overload the socket.

What size extension leads do I need for a tumble dryer?

Many tumble-dryers only have 1.0 sq mm cable these days (instead of the 1.5 sq mm they used to be fitted with), which is allowed because the length of the lead is short. This really precludes the use even of 1.5 sq mm extension leads.

Do I need to plug my dryer into a lead socket?

It’s much better to have the dryer plugged into its own fixed socket, without the use of any adaptors. If you do decide to use a lead, you should ensure that it is no longer than around 6ft, and that the lead is made up of 2.5mm cable. “Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result.”