13A plug has loose fuseholder (Ed)

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23ckabu

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Is that white switch looking thing supposed to be rattling and hanging out? Just curious as to whether it's safe or not, it's really stressing me out and I'm wondering if it's safe for the kids to use for their laptop, if it's not normal, I'd appreciate help on what to do, thanks!
 
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If i'm not mistaken there's a fuse in there, 13A.
Once in the socket it won't move, but it shouldn't be rattling.
 
Thanks so much, and it only rattles when I move the plug around or shake it. So it's fine if we still use the plug?
 
23ckabu said:
Thanks so much, and it only rattles when I move the plug around or shake it. So it's fine if we still use the plug?
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What is rattling, will likely be the fuse, and that is not OK. In your photo, there is a white component, located within the white area. I suspect that white component is the carrier for the fuse, and it appears not to be fully pushed home, hence the rattling fuse. Try pressing it firmly into place.
 
Jurassicspark said:
Remove the fuse cover and re install it again.
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It's a flip out fuse cover, it can not be removed and reinstalled.

And yes, the cover can be slightly loose, as the fuse fits through a ring on the fuse cover - the fuse mounted in it's holders, then keeps the cover in place.
 
Harry Bloomfield said:
I suspect that white component is the carrier for the fuse, and it appears not to be fully pushed home,
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It may be fully home, that's just the way that type of fuse holder is made.
Dead easy to PAT, the fuse holder can be opened with a thumb nail.

Edit
If the OP can rattle the fuse cover back and forth, but then encounters resistance when trying to pull the cover fully open (and fuse out), the contacts are probably fine.
 
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the plastic part or the fuse clip might be damaged, in which case the plug needs replacing.

what appliance does it supply?
 
Jurassicspark said:
It's a laptop the fuse would most likely to be less than 5A.
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I've noticed these days, manufacturers are fitting 13A fuses if their leads are 0.75mm² min.

The first time I came across this was when I did a PAT test on an electric heater. I proclaimed the fuse too big for the 0.75mm² flex, which it would be as per the regs, but the manufacturers seem to have different rules.

Why the difference, I do not know.
 
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