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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: r1 on 18 November 2010, 14:42:19

Title: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: r1 on 18 November 2010, 14:42:19
just been given the above from the old boy next door as he dosnt use it anymore but hes robbed the plug of it.now i know i could just bung a 13 amp fuse in but i do like things to be right.so does anyone no whatsize it should be?
thanks.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: RobG on 18 November 2010, 14:48:30
More than 1Kw (which it should be) 13Amp

edit, should have typed less :-[
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 November 2010, 14:56:19
I would say it's unlikely to be more than a few hundred watts.

It will have quite a high inrush current when starting though, so needs a generously rated fuse for that reason. 5 Amps would be my choice but check the rating plate on the appliance to be sure.

Kevin
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 November 2010, 15:01:02
Quote
I would say it's unlikely to be more than a few hundred watts.

It will have quite a high inrush current when starting though, so needs a generously rated fuse for that reason. 5 Amps would be my choice but check the rating plate on the appliance to be sure.

Kevin

Every deep freezer I have ever bought has always been fitted with a 13 amp fuse.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 November 2010, 15:03:43
It really depends on the rating of the cable fitted. ;)

Could well be that a large freezer would need a 13A fuse due to the inrush current.

Kevin
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 November 2010, 15:05:57
We've got 2 medium sized chest freezers, and one small freezer that sits on the work surface, all came fitted with 13 amp fuses.

I was surprised.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 November 2010, 15:11:51
Quote
We've got 2 medium sized chest freezers, and one small freezer that sits on the work surface, all came fitted with 13 amp fuses.

I was surprised.

 :o

Partial to the odd Choc Ice, then? ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 November 2010, 15:13:07
Quote
Quote
We've got 2 medium sized chest freezers, and one small freezer that sits on the work surface, all came fitted with 13 amp fuses.

I was surprised.

 :o

Partial to the odd Choc Ice, then? ;D

Kevin

No, Mrs AA likes to stock up for a siege ;D
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 November 2010, 15:15:15
I suppose it's not something you want to defrost due to a marginal fuse rating so they are probably designed for a 13 amp fused supply.

Kevin
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2010, 15:16:11
Quote
....

It will have quite a high inrush current when starting though, so needs a generously rated fuse for that reason.  .....

In life before inverters could ramp up a motor, high starting currents for motors were catered for with a specific motor fuse. Although I'm not involved with electrickery these days, they seem to be something of the past now.  :question
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 November 2010, 15:27:26
Quote
Quote
....

It will have quite a high inrush current when starting though, so needs a generously rated fuse for that reason.  .....

In life before inverters could ramp up a motor, high starting currents for motors were catered for with a specific motor fuse. Although I'm not involved with electrickery these days, they seem to be something of the past now.  :question

It's still the case that you can buy fuses and circuit breakers with delay or fast ratings (and various other specialities) but the plug fuse comes in one type only.

The equipment normally has further protection internally where it's required. The plug fuse is mainly there to protect the cable on the appliance so if it has a high inrush current you'd fit a thicker mains cable and a larger fuse.

In some applications, it wouldn't just be a couple of metres of cable but a much more expensive "upgrade" to cope with the surge, so you'd fit a fuse / breaker that would allow short-term overload of the cable but protect it in the longer term. 

Kevin
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 18 November 2010, 15:45:00
13A fuse, the inrush on the uber cheap motors used in such appliances is horrific!

And remember, the fuse protects the supply, not the appliance or the cable.

The cable should be rated to be able to tolerate the max rating of the fuse.

And you can still get slow blow fuses for motor type applications (often sand filled) but not in standard household plug format.  :y
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: aaronjb on 18 November 2010, 16:06:38
Quote
And you can still get slow blow fuses for motor type applications (often sand filled) but not in standard household plug format.  :y

This reminds me of the fuse we found in a friends new eBay special plasma cutter .. it came fitted with a standard household plug which had inside it ..

A standard shape fuse rated at 32A with a piece of steel soldered across it - not even sure why they bothered pretending it was a fuse, may as well have just supplied it with a bolt in there!  :o

Calculated max draw was way above the rating of the 13A plug, let alone the flex or a household socket!

E-marked my ass.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: r1 on 18 November 2010, 16:25:35
thanks for all replies
tried a 5 amp and it lasted about 15mins/thought id try small and see.had a 13 amp one now in for 1hr and all good.as i didnt know anything about the history of this didnt want to but a big fuse in  that might mask a proplem with the freezer and later on have a big bang
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: redelitev6 on 18 November 2010, 16:51:30
 ;)Fuses? you big soft tart! what's wrong with good old aluminium foil?way stronger than fuses :y
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: r1 on 18 November 2010, 17:01:06
Quote
;)Fuses? you big soft tart! what's wrong with good old aluminium foil?way stronger than fuses :y

got 2 kids a mrs,dog and its my house not rented.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Psychoca on 18 November 2010, 17:04:24
Quote
We've got 2 medium sized chest freezers, and one small freezer that sits on the work surface, all came fitted with 13 amp fuses.

I was surprised.


Is that all...  I have 1 medium Chest freezer, 1 small chest freezer and 2 additional freezers in the house...
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 November 2010, 17:12:31
Quote
;)Fuses? you big soft tart! what's wrong with good old aluminium foil?way stronger than fuses :y

That reminds me, my cousin had a Ford V8 Pilot back in the fifties, if I remember correctly, it only had one fuse, which kept blowing, so he put a 1/8" piece of copper bar in it, never blew again!
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Richie London on 18 November 2010, 17:30:25
i remember someone i worked with who told me when he was in saudi arabia years ago the arab contractors had power tools that were so old that to get electric they spliced the lead into the mains cable and wrapped selotape round it, he said there was usually a very long cable coming from the mains with about 10 cables slpice in all along the length of it.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Lioned on 18 November 2010, 17:51:31
Watts = Volts x Amps
So look to see if you can see a plate with the wattage on it.

UK now in line with EU works on 230 Volts.

So long as your flex to the appliance is 1.0mm or more then 13amps any less and you should use a fuse suitable to the size of flex.
Title: Re: what size fuse for a chest freezer?
Post by: Tony H on 18 November 2010, 18:13:16
Quote
Quote
;)Fuses? you big soft tart! what's wrong with good old aluminium foil?way stronger than fuses :y

That reminds me, my cousin had a Ford V8 Pilot back in the fifties, if I remember correctly, it only had one fuse, which kept blowing, so he put a 1/8" piece of copper bar in it, never blew again![/quote]

Even when his house burnt down  ::) ;) ;)