How hot is a mains plug supposed to get?

[Markymark]

Watts divided by Volts give Amps, 2000/240=8ish

Aren’t we 220v these days making it 9A?

 

[DaveReading]

I think its volts times amps equals watts

Watts divided by Volts give Amps, 2000/240=8ish

Or, to complete the set, Watts divided by Amps = Volts.

 

[winjim]

Aren’t we 220v these days making it 9A?

UK are 230V -6% +10% compared with mainland Europe who are 230V -10% +6%

So basically nothing's changed except the labelling, we're still 240V and mainland Europe are still 220V.

 

[Wobblers]

At 2 kW, a plug will likely get mildly warm. It shouldn't get hot.

the fuse blew ten minutes after posting... put another in (5amp as opposed to the 13amp that blew), that lasted half an hour and blew. I guess the heater is fooked

I'm not surprised. Your heater's drawing about 8-9 Amps. As a rule of thumb, a fuse will only blow at around 1.5 times its rating, and even then, it'll likely take at least 30 minutes or more to heat up sufficiently before it ruptures. Your heater's probably not drawing a huge current.

A 13 A fuse can get quite hot, even in normal use. That can cause the contact between it and the fuse holder to oxidise, increasing its resistance so making things hotter. Try going over the fuse metal end caps and the fuse holder contacts with a bit of sand paper and seeing if the plug still gets hot afterwards. (Remember to unplug it first before!)

 

[Wobblers]

Aren’t we 220v these days making it 9A?

UK are 230V -6% +10% compared with mainland Europe who are 230V -10% +6%

So basically nothing's changed except the labelling, we're still 240V and mainland Europe are still 220V.

Yebbut perhaps in London they have 220 V. You know, crap electricity to go with the crap water...

 

[lazybloke]

253 volts out here, according to my Martindale meter. The kettle boils fast!

 

[ColinJ]

If a plug gets too hot just chuck some cold water on it.

You do know that some poor sap will probably end up doing that now ...!

 

[slowmotion]

[QUOTE 5555646, member: 9609"]247v here in the Borders (its always just under the 250 had quite a few multimeters over the years)
we're can handle it though, no shandy drinking 220ers in these parts.[/QUOTE]
I am not worthy.....

 

[slowmotion]

[QUOTE 5555653, member: 9609"]we're down a volt the night - hope the electric blanket is getting enough juice, snowing outdoors
View attachment 455823 [/QUOTE]
If you live in a fairly remote rural area, my guess is that at off peak times you will have a high voltage, and at peak times you will possibly be down in the low 220s. It doesn't matter at all, of course.
You might freeze to death if you sleep in late.....

 

[slowmotion]

[QUOTE 5555657, member: 9609"]its always 245 to 250 here at any time of day - and yet at my mothers 50 mile away down in englad it will be about 235 ?[/QUOTE]
Are you a part-time salesman for Scottish Power?

 

[Accy cyclist]

You do know that some poor sap will probably end up doing that now ...!

Good point. I've now put a warning under the post.

 

[alicat]

Great warning @Accy cyclist. I have a friend who didn't realise that water and electricity don't mix. Not even a numpty could miss your 'Don't try this at home' warning.

 

[Paulus]

Great warning @Accy cyclist. I have a friend who didn't realise that water and electricity don't mix. Not even a numpty could miss your 'Don't try this at home' warning.

There are some special numptys around though.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Aren’t we 220v these days making it 9A?

I did say 'ish' due to the fluctuating volts available

 

[Milzy]

I used to work with a maintenance fitting engineer who would sort out electrical jobs on 240 mains without turning off the trip box.
Sometimes he would get a belt but he seemed to be hardened to it. He said it was like a little bite.
When you watch soaps like Corrie they touch a live wire & end up instantly dead.
Wouldn’t you be ok as long as you didn’t clamp onto the source?