Page 1 of Am I using the right Plug for projector from Germany

Hi my projector arrived this morning - got a deal on amazon.de - the plug in the box was European so I have been using my old projector (kettle flex style) power lead.

The German lead says 16A 250 V and my 3 pronged lead says  13A 250 V - is this okay to use?  

Should I buy a German to EU plug connector?

should I stop using it until I get a eu plug connector?

I have been using it all day and am worried I might have damaged it.

any advice greatly appreciated

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd July 2014, 22:24

The european plug will most likely not have a fuse in it, so 16A cable is not protected in a 32A UK socket ring.

Cut the end off the european plug and fit a UK 3 pin plug, even if it does not have an earth lead (ie, two wire, live and neutral). Now fuse it at maximum of 13A fuse (maximum allowed in a UK plug), unless......

....your projector handbook tells you the wattage of the projector, then divide by 240 to get amps, and add min 25% more to get the fuse size need for protection. 

Example 1000W projector = 4A, so use fuse at 5A 

Example 1500W projector = 6A so use fuse at 10A.

The handbook might even tell you the fuse size needed for protection and fit that in the UK plug.

Brill - thanks - did Ii do any damage using my old projector lead?

If it still works you haven't damaged it. 3 pin kettle plugs are pretty standard the world over, the only difference between them are the plugs on the other end, the current/voltage the lead is rated for, and the fuse on the end.

As long as the projector accepts 220V AC you'll have done no damage to it.

I'd be surprised if you needed more than a 3A fuse tbh!


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Thanks guys - I checked out the watts using the method described here and a 3A plug will work - thanks again for all the help - greatly appreciated.