Will I Make My Kettle Burn with This Modification?

Ltwinwong on 14/08/2017 - 02:42
Last edited 14/08/2017 - 09:39 by 1 other user

I bought a Delonghi Kettle from German and now use it in Australia, it generates max power of 3000W, the plug is 13A. it burnt the plastic after I plugged it into normal 10A domestic socket. I am trying to find a solution to save this Kettle.

I did some research and the way to fix is to replace the plug with a 15A one, and also install on the wall a new 15A socket(But this is way too much work).

My question is that what if I replace it with a 10A plug and plug it in 10A domestic socket.

1. Will the kettle still work (I don't mind if it generate less power as 2400W, it may just take another minutes to boil the water)?

2. or my concept is totally wrong and it will burn out my kettle or plug?

I can't find any answer on the internet, so hoping any genius here to help. Thank you.

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      eug on 24/08/2017 - 11:15

      Germans aren't dying from their kettles, so yes it does.

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  nickj on 15/08/2017 - 17:13

  It's $7.50 for a plastic kettle from Kmart that will work fine. Our has lasted years already. That's way cheaper than any wiring modification will ever be.

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  ashpete02 on 15/08/2017 - 21:31

  I get why you'd want to keep the kettle, at 3kw it'd boil fast, which is a good thing, I hate how long it takes to boil a kettle, and god the noise…

  If the power circuit that's feeding the GPO is on a MCB rated for the wire guage, and that guage is capable of the cable length and current draw you should be fine running 13A on a 10A GPO, though you'd want to make sure the GPO is wired up properly and likewise for the plug end if you have to attach another. Id only run this kettle on a minimum wire guage of 2.5mm2 twin & earth, and if not a particularly long cable run, protected by a 20A mcb & rcd, have you ever had problems with any breakers tripping? If the GPO in use for the kettle is only used or can only be used for the kettle (alone) then get a sparky to hard wire it into the power circuit, through a cable gland attached to a blank plate and a solder joint behind, could even take a tail from existing GPO and solder to that and not loose the GPO though your not gonna be able to run much while that baby is on.. that's be how I'd do it if I were you… in saying that you'd really reallyhave to love this kettle to spend up on that ;)

  But to answer your questions:
  1: Yes it probably will still work, but how safe may depend on how well you perform the work, and the current state of the cabling and protection!
  2: sort of, the kettle wont draw less power, and if you don't care about the extra boil time then yes buy a new kerttle as many suggested.

  Should you insist on atempting to replace the outlet and plug end yourself - please watch a number of video's and read/watch guides for how to do so as to ensure you do the job as good as it possibly can be by you, I don't recommend this though…

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  smpantsonfire on 15/08/2017 - 22:29

  Do you have an air conditioner? Run a 20a extension lead inside and use that. Good to go.

  *my answer solves the problem.

  ** may not be practical.

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  Adz81 on 16/08/2017 - 01:18

  Buy a new kettle, please.

  We have an old 15a extension peas that we've changed the pronged end to a 10a plug, and use it for a water pump (a 15a plugged one), and it works perfectly, but we won't let it run without being in its direct vicinity.

  For a kettle, that you're going to use daily (rather than sparodically), please just buy a new one.

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  DenDen711 on 16/08/2017 - 12:32

  Don't forget that by using inappropriate appliances and a fire occurs, your insurance company will LOVE YOU because they will be able to deny any claims!

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    eug on 16/08/2017 - 15:43

    I think a cheap heater from bunnings has a higher chance of catching fire than a quality 13A kettle that's plugged directly into one of the two sockets on a standard double GPO, with the other socket unused.

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  uberkatas on 16/08/2017 - 18:48

  Light a fire in the sink, and use the heat from that to boil the water in your fancy kettle. If the fire destroys the kettle, then buy a new kettle that fits a standard 10A plug. If on the other hand the kettle survives and the fire burns down the house instead, build a new house with a 15A outlet, because the kettle deserves it.

  For the record I am both a licensed electrician and I'm on the internet, so my advice is bulletproof.

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  cockneylondoner on 16/08/2017 - 19:37

  It worries me when people who don't know about things start to ask advice about how they should overcome a problem with something that can best be described as a silent killer.
  Firstly, you should have satisfied yourself that what you intended to buy would actually safely work on your electrical system, with perhaps just the plug being changed, before purchasing the product.
  Secondly, as you didn't do the first thing and are having problems then I'd strongly suggest that you consult a qualified electrician - URGENTLY

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  gorge on 16/08/2017 - 21:06

  you could design a circuit using a power transistor to limit the maximum current draw

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  Of Aquitaine on 25/08/2017 - 20:05

  Send the kettle back for a refund.

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