Connecting washing machine to fused spur

iamdjdz

iamdjdz

iamdjdz

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Getting a washing machine for new house which has a fused faceplate instead of a socket (switch is above the worktop with other appliances), got a few questions:

Am I going to be able to do this myself? Never fitted to a spur but not stupid and work with data termination regularly, changed plugs etc in the past etc.

How do I get the wires to come out of the faceplate? It protrudes from the wall slightly but doesn't have any holes in the sides or face of the faceplate.

Presumably the fuse just has to be a 13amp one to match the one on the plug?
 
No, no socket, it's just a blank faceplate with a fuse on it. I'm tempted to fit a new socket but if it's a neater or better job then I'm also happy to have a go at the spur if it's simple enough?
 
I did think of a recessed socket but I'm not sure of the depth below the plasterboard? Or where to source one? If it's just a case of stripping the cable and wiring it into some connections in the spur faceplate I should be able to manage that for maintenance etc.
 
paintguy said:
That really is strange. As RJC says, its quite common to have an unswitched socket for an appliance hidden low down or in a cupboard with an accessible switch/FCU above the worktop.

Personally I'd remove the faceplate first just to check if there are wires leading from the "load" side. If so then there's almost certainly a socket hidden somewhere.
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Yeah there's an accessible switch in a block with ones for other appliances such as fridge freezer, tumble dryer, dishwasher etc, with the black fused faceplate behind the gap for washing machine and also one of the cupboards (I can only see behind one) where the gaps have been filled for the other appliances.

I'll take it off and see what's connected either later today or in the week.

Is the general consensus to just replace it with a switched socket?
 
paintguy said:
If there's already a switch in the circuit then it doesn't even need to be a switched one, but swapping to a socket outlet does sound like the best plan if the wiring doesn't lead on from it to anywhere else.
Click to expand...

Cool, I'll have a look, I'm confident wiring a new socket in, I suppose in the long run it will be more beneficial especially if the machine lasts longer than we live in the house, don't have to worry so much about moving it.
 
Pocah said:
Hello.
You can't replace it with a 13A socket. It is a fused spur and it's performing an important function. If it is a fused outlet then there would be a hole in it to let a cable out, so the only conclusion is that it's a spur. A spur is where you take a cable off the ring main to feed a few extra sockets. Commonly they appear in kitchens where people want extra sockets. The single cable is lower current than the ring main so it needs to be protected by it's own fuse. If you replace the fused spur with a socket then you are no longer protected and if there is a fault the entire spur could melt and catch fire. You could replace it with a fused outlet spur, but you need to have a look see if you have room for all those wires in the back box.
It's possible of course it's no longer used. You will find that out when you look inside. See what wires it has.Switch the mains off and take a look inside. count the cables on the IN and the OUT. The numbers will tell you what it's doing. While you are there, see if you have room for another on the OUT.
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So it's got an above counter switch for the spur but no socket below just the faceplate. Am I wrong in thinking that the plug's fuse would provide the protection whereas the spur is protected by the fuse instead (ie if plug cut off)?

I really need to remove it and see what connections it has though.
 
Ok guys thanks for clarifying, especially Pocah. I believe it's not a fused spur but a fused outlet, though I'm unable to physically check until I can get down to the house this week, sorry to draw this out I don't have it in front of me!

If it is a fused spur and not simply an outlet I'll get a spark to have a look at putting a socket in.

If it is a fused outlet ie no load etc is it safe to swap out for a socket? Also I'll check the fuse to make sure it's 13A and not higher?

Edit - this is a new build house with no previous owners
 
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Ok so I went down to the house tonight and it's a fused outlet with a 13amp fuse so should be safe to swap to a switched socket.. nothing coming out of the load connections.
 
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