Calling all electrical gurus

mmj_uk · 27 May 2011 at 13:54

I have just purchased some speakers from Germany but forgot all about the fact that it would ship with a German power cable, the power cable for my printer is identical physically but I just want to make sure it will be okay electrically.

On the back of the speakers it says "230V~ 50/60 Hz 90W", on the cable that my printer uses it says "2.5A 250V~"... is it safe to use??

I'm hoping not to blow them up.

Thanks.

lord filbuster · 27 May 2011 at 13:58

Yep. Perfectly fine.

J.B · 27 May 2011 at 13:59

Just cut the plug off the one that came with the speakers and attack a UK plug and you should be good to go

mmj_uk · 27 May 2011 at 14:01

J.B said:
Just cut the plug off the one that came with the speakers and attack a UK plug and you should be good to go

Yeah I could do but I had this spare cable as the printer is rubbish anyway (drinks ink like there's no tomorrow), I just looked at the German plug and that says 250V 2.5A the same so like you both said it will be fine.

Freefaller · 27 May 2011 at 14:23

You'll be fine

[Olly] · 27 May 2011 at 14:52

J.B said:
Just cut the plug off the one that came with the speakers and attack a UK plug and you should be good to go

That'll work just fine

C.R.A.Z.Y · 30 May 2011 at 17:13

The fuses in plugs are there to simply protect the cable and nothing else.
Provided the correct fuse is used it's impossible for the cable to demand more current then it can safely carry!
The worse thing that could have happened is that you plugged in a device which demanded more than 2.5A and the fuse would have simply burnt out, nothing would 'blow up'.
The device demands/draws the current the cable has nothing to do with this other than supplying the voltage and current demanded by the device.

lurkio · 30 May 2011 at 17:33

Fuses are there mainly to protect you and the device (from catching fire etc)
Just incase some lecy goes from the device into you the fuse will pop before you die(hopefully)

It should work fine with a new plug

C.R.A.Z.Y · 30 May 2011 at 18:21

lurkio said:
Fuses are there mainly to protect you and the device

No they are not!

They are simply there to protect the cable they supply in exactly the same way as the fuse's/mcb's at your CCU protects your ring finals and radials from over current.

As already stated they make it impossible for cables to demand currents higher then their CSA can safely carry, preventing over-current and fire!!

RCD's, RCBO's ...etc ARE there to protect people but these obviously work completely differently then a simple fuse.

Only a foolish man relies on a basic plug/CCU fuse to prevent electrocution as this is NOT what they have been designed for!

/qualified 16th edition sparky