Have you ever stopped to consider the rating of the plug attached to your appliance? Is it the same as the rating of the device? What does it mean? Does the plug’s rating say anything about the kinds of sockets you can use?
Can I Plug 16 Amp Plug To 13 Amp Socket?
If you connect the 16A plug of a 16A appliance to a 13A socket, you will probably start a fire. If the 13A socket is part of a 13 or 15A circuit, the breaker will trip because you have exceeded its capacity. This practice is only safe if the appliance has a much lower rating than the plug.
Check the label on the device. Don’t assume that it has a rating of 16 amps simply because the plug is 16A.
The location also matters.
In some countries, a 16-amp plug has a different configuration from a 13-amp socket. Therefore, you cannot force the 16A plug into the 13A socket even if the risks don’t concern you.
Some people will tell you that you can do whatever you want, but that is not entirely true. If you choose to connect a 16A plug to a 13A socket, no one can stop you.
But I will encourage you to stick with 13A plugs if you want to use a 13A socket. Or you can use a 16A socket for your 16A plug.
Then again, if you have 16A plug to 13-amp socket converters like this one, you can probably engineer a solution.
Related Post:
- Outlet VS Socket VS Receptacle – What’s The Difference?
- Can I Plug A 220v Into 110v Outlet & Vice Versa?
- Can’t Plug Into Outlet (Quick Fix)
- British/Australian Outlets Do Have Switches While Americans Don’t
Is It Dangerous To Plug 16 Amp To 13 Amp?
1). Appliance Rating Matters
Every appliance has a rating. Most of the time, that rating is presented in watts. But you can turn the wattage into amperage if you divide the watts by the voltage.
For instance, if your appliance has a wattage of 1,425, and your home uses 240V, dividing 1,425 by 240 gives you six amps.
The rating of the appliance matters because it affects the kind of circuit you will use.
2). Appliance Amperage Shouldn’t Exceed Circuit Amperage
The circuit matters in this situation because it tends to affect the outlet’s rating.
For instance, if you have a 13A socket, don’t be surprised if the circuit is 13 – 15 amps.
I don’t want the socket’s amperage to exceed the circuit’s amperage.
If you have a 15A circuit, install a 15A outlet.
The amperage of the circuit is important. If the amperage of the appliance exceeds the amperage of the circuit, the breaker will trip repeatedly. If the breaker doesn’t respond because of a malfunction, you could start a fire.
3). Understand 16A Plug
Sixteen amps is a lot. You find that rating in powerful appliances like electric water heaters and washing machines. Therefore, you cannot afford to make mistakes by paring a 16A plug with the wrong socket.
But what does a rating of 16 amps mean on a plug?
Most people believe (erroneously) that a 16A rating on a plug shows that the appliances in question use 16 amps. But that is not true.
A rating of 16A means that the plug should only work with appliances with a maximum rating of 16A.
This is because a 16A plug can safely transmit a maximum of 16 amps. 16A plugs have 16A fuses. If you exceed the plug’s capacity, the fuse will blow. However, the presence of a 16A plug doesn’t mean the appliance in question uses 16 amps.
An appliance with a wattage of 1,425, yet the plug has a 16A 250V rating. Even though the device uses six amps, the plug is rated for 16A.
4). 13A Socket Should Use Maximum of 13A
A 13A socket is supposed to take a maximum of 13 amps. You don’t want to force the socket to transmit more current than its rating suggests. You will start a fire.
Does Voltage Make A Difference?
The voltage can make a difference. For instance, if you have a 1,425-watt appliance on a 240V power supply, it can work in a 13A socket because it uses six amps. But if you have a 1,425-watt device on a 110V power supply, the amperage of the equipment is 12A (1,425/110). If you remember, you can only use 80 percent of a circuit’s capacity.
How To Safely Use 16A To 13A?
16A is a lot of power. You can use it to run power tools like circular saws. Therefore, you have to take every possible precaution to prevent a 16A appliance in a 13A socket from starting a fire.
- Depending on your country, you may not have the option of using a 16A plug in a 13A socket because their configurations are far too different. But if the plugs and sockets are compatible, check the rating of the equipment.
- Do not use a 16A device in a 13A socket, regardless of what you’ve heard. You will burn your home down. But if the rating of the device is much lower than 13 amps, you can use it in the socket.
- Yes, the plug can draw a maximum of 16 amps. But if the appliance is only six amps, the plug won’t draw 16 amps. It will use six amps. If this practice makes you uncomfortable, change the power cord and its plug.
Apparently, the process is simple. You can install a 13A plug or lower. But the rating of the new plug cannot be lower than the appliance’s rating. But replacing the power cord and its plug may void the warranty of your appliance. Keep that in mind.
Can I Plug 13 Amp to 16 Amp Fuse?
It is a bad idea to use 16 amps on 13 amps because you may force the 13A socket to carry 16 amps, exceeding its capacity and causing the wires in the socket to melt.
But you have nothing to worry about if the plug is 13 amps while the socket is 16 amps. The plug can carry a maximum of 13 amps, while the socket can carry as many as 16 amps.
Therefore, the socket’s capacity can easily accommodate the plug’s electrical demands. Though, if the 16A socket is connected to a circuit of equal rating, you cannot use it to run a 13A appliance. That breaks the 80 percent rule by a slight margin.