New Electrical plugs for SA

[DominionZA]

Why do you want to convert already? None of your gadgets or appliances will have the proper plug? :wtf:

Sounds to me like you'd be making your life harder for no reason.

I know how to change plugs. Not rocket science.
For devices with a fixed plug (like chargers), will just use an adapter. Again - no biggie.

 

[JerryMungo]

I like the new plugs too. Much smaller - you have to wonder though... for devices with thicker power cords - how do you wire one of those small things onto it. Anyone seen the generic plug yet, now we've seen the sockets?

 

[ponder]

I can fall in love with these plugs - if everything starts using them!

Wonder if you get premoulded wire/plug combos yet? Buying a few of these you can rewire all the appliances in your home. Most small appliances/electronics already use the two pin plugs so you would probably only have to rewire things like the fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, lawn mower & pressure cleaner. That and all your PC stuff.

 

[ponder]

I like the new plugs too. Much smaller - you have to wonder though... for devices with thicker power cords - how do you wire one of those small things onto it. Anyone seen the generic plug yet, now we've seen the sockets?

I suspect you would have to buy premoulded cables and rewire the device which is pretty simple.

 

[JerryMungo]

I suspect you would have to buy premoulded cables and rewire the device which is pretty simple.

Not sure I follow... what if you get one of these with your PC for example... ?

Or these:

or figure of 8?

 

[ebendl]

I guess one could get a plug with a piece of wire already attach, then patch the wires together. Not very safe though...

Edit: I would expect multi-plugs like we have currently, but with the normal two prong plugs replaced with the new standard. That way you could run both for a couple of years.

 

[JerryMungo]

I guess one could get a plug with a piece of wire already attach, then patch the wires together. Not very safe though...

Crikey, that would be a backwards solution for sure lol

 

[Sinbad]

They look like they can be opened and wired.

 

[JerryMungo]

View attachment 96520
They look like they can be opened and wired.

Awesome, ta Sinbad, looks like what I was looking for!

 

[Drunkard #1]

The whole system needs to be re-assessed. These are fine for low amp, thin cord appliances, but not 4kW heaters and 220A-output welding machines with high amps and heavy, stiff cords. I'd love to see houses built with two types of sockets, and if that's the case then fine, use this as the low amp socket, but this is not a one-size-fits-all plug. Wire these sockets with 1mm² cable and put a 10A breaker on them, but you also need a standard for high amp appliances. IEC 60309 is fine, but make it a standard, and offer guidance to architects and developers. Otherwise stick with what we've got.

And for those saying, "but these are 20A". Go for it, wire up a 2.5mm² cord to one of these puppies and see how well those 4mm plastic pins hold it in the socket. I use 4mm² H07RN extension cords (for volt drop over 100m, still 20A) and I struggle to wire that into a normal SA plug. Good luck using one of these.

 

[JerryMungo]

The whole system needs to be re-assessed. These are fine for low amp, thin cord appliances, but not 4kW heaters and 220A-output welding machines with high amps and heavy, stiff cords. I'd love to see houses built with two types of sockets, and if that's the case then fine, use this as the low amp socket, but this is not a one-size-fits-all plug. Wire these sockets with 1mm² cable and put a 10A breaker on them, but you also need a standard for high amp appliances. IEC 60309 is fine, but make it a standard, and offer guidance to architects and developers. Otherwise stick with what we've got.

And for those saying, "but these are 20A". Go for it, wire up a 2.5mm² cord to one of these puppies and see how well those 4mm plastic pins hold it in the socket. I use 4mm² H07RN extension cords (for volt drop over 100m, still 20A) and I struggle to wire that into a normal SA plug. Good luck using one of these.

Agree, I wouldn't have these in my garage and you have to wonder if they plan on phasing the old ones out altogether or not. Already I'm seeing so many cheap hollow copper pin plugs on the shelves... The thin ones will get rather warm under proper load - even most garden mowers would pull a bit...

 

[krycor]

I'd have preferred the round two pin ones(with body ground points) but ok.. just means all my adapters are a loss in future on the bright side u can fit a lot of these in one socket .. uh oh

 

[ponder]

Not sure I follow... what if you get one of these with your PC for example... ?

Those you should be seeing complete premoulded replacements soon I suspect. In the case of a something like a toaster, fridge etc it's not to hard to rewire them if you have a bit of skill but I suspect most people will not bother and eventually phase them out when they get new appliances with the new plugs.

 

[Billy]

The whole system needs to be re-assessed. These are fine for low amp, thin cord appliances, but not 4kW heaters and 220A-output welding machines with high amps and heavy, stiff cords. I'd love to see houses built with two types of sockets, and if that's the case then fine, use this as the low amp socket, but this is not a one-size-fits-all plug. Wire these sockets with 1mm² cable and put a 10A breaker on them, but you also need a standard for high amp appliances. IEC 60309 is fine, but make it a standard, and offer guidance to architects and developers. Otherwise stick with what we've got.

And for those saying, "but these are 20A". Go for it, wire up a 2.5mm² cord to one of these puppies and see how well those 4mm plastic pins hold it in the socket. I use 4mm² H07RN extension cords (for volt drop over 100m, still 20A) and I struggle to wire that into a normal SA plug. Good luck using one of these.

I tend to agree with you. After two burnt out sockets with a Speed Queen tumble dryer, I resorted to a dedicated isolator switch in place of the socket. However I would presume that the IEC and SABS have tested the systems at the top voltage and current rating.

Fortunately the number of appliances taking the full amperage are few and far between.

 

[JerryMungo]

I tend to agree with you. After two burnt out sockets with a Speed Queen tumble dryer, I resorted to a dedicated isolator switch in place of the socket. However I would presume that the IEC and SABS have tested the systems at the top voltage and current rating.

Fortunately the number of appliances taking the full amperage are few and far between.

Yeah, but with one of those on the end of your kitchen multiplug... driving kettle, toaster and microwave for brekkies might just cause issues.

 

[ebendl]

You can just wait until your toast popped up before making coffee?

 

[JerryMungo]

You can just wait until your toast popped up before making coffee?

Sure you can, but who's going to do that, and who's going to know to do that?

 

[mountain_lion]

Very cool! My question is... how easy is it to wire your own plug? A bit tight in there IMO.

Easy with up to 1mm² wire, bit more fiddly with thicker wire.

Bought this Crabtree plug from the local Agrimark several months ago.
Rated 16A, 250V.



The pins are solid so will have at least the same current capacity as the hollow pins you get these days in the "old" format. Obviously not equal to the old format solid brass pins (which I prefer), but those are (electrically) over engineered, even for 20A loads. Mechanically, the old SA 3 pin does work very well though.

 

[JerryMungo]

Thanks for that - I'm a bit concerned about these plugs mechanically. there's a kink in the cable immediately it enters the plug (not a major issue, but could become an issue). That said, at least it does it's bend after entering to avoid regular movement. How solid does the bit at the neck look - the bit that grabs the insulation to prevent it pulling out? Is that model a decent grade of plastic, i.e. not prone to cracking / chipping?

 

[spiff]

FFS! please tell me these are compatible with the clipsal 2 prong wall plugs I have already replaces years ago at considerable expense?!!