Small mains-rated plug/sockets - suggestions ?
Adrian Brentnall
Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
plug/socket.
Have just splashed out on some rather impressive LED-based GU10 mains
spotbulbs to fit out 2 or 3 of the 3-spot fittings. Application is
display stand lighting (leds putting out far less heat than
quartz-halogen) - but it'd be very handy to have some sort of miniature
mains-rated 3-way plug/socket arrangement to allow some flexibility in
setting up the lighting.
I guess XLR's fitted in a custom box are an option - but a ready-made
solution would be even better - so - anybody seen such a thing for sale?
Ratings would be 240V - tiny amperage - way less than 3A total for all 9
bulbs. The more 'protected' the hot end the better...
Thanks
Adrian
d...@gglz.com
2A and 5A round pin plugs/sockets.
5A is approx half size of a 13A plug
2A is approx third size of a 13A plug
Should only be used on lighting circuits, not ringmains.
Fairly widely used to provide table lamps that are switched alongside
conventional overhead lighting.
Note that the plugs are NOT fused.
Andy Burns
> Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
> plug/socket.
>
> Ratings would be 240V - tiny amperage - way less than 3A total
Shame that panel outlets are for smaller IEC fittings are like hens'
teeth, or you could use an C7 outlet with C8 plug if your light fittings
are double insulated, or a C5 outlet with C6 plug if you need an earth.
Maybe the Neutrik XLR/LNE are not such a bad idea (unless you've got
other XLRs for speakers around the place!)
Adrian Brentnall
Thanks for the suggestion - trouble is the 'socket' is fairly bulky.
Ideal would be for something much smaller, that could be concealed
around the stall/display somewhere....
Adrian
Adrian Brentnall
> On 2010-10-18, Adrian Brentnall<adr...@ambquality.co.uk> wrote:
>> HI Folks
>> Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
>> plug/socket.
>>
>> Have just splashed out on some rather impressive LED-based GU10 mains
>> spotbulbs to fit out 2 or 3 of the 3-spot fittings. Application is
>> display stand lighting (leds putting out far less heat than
>> quartz-halogen) - but it'd be very handy to have some sort of miniature
>> mains-rated 3-way plug/socket arrangement to allow some flexibility in
>> setting up the lighting.
>>
>> I guess XLR's fitted in a custom box are an option - but a ready-made
>> solution would be even better - so - anybody seen such a thing for sale?
>
> the size of a small box of matches, which fit either 4-up into a large
> mains plug or 6-up into a miniature distribution strip. The mini-plugs
> aren't fused and have 3 round pins in a line, each about 1mm or so in
> diameter. Sadly, I have no idea what they're called or where I got them,
> or even if they are still available.
>
HI Huge
That's precisely what I was thinking of - had a 4-way set of those some
time ago used on a component hi-fi system......
...and I guess they'll be in one of the many boxes of electronics
'rubbish' stored around the place......
Wonder what they're called ?
Thanks
Adrian
Adrian Brentnall
Hi Andy
Thanks for the suggestion...
Maybe the most compact arrangement would be three female XLR's on flying
leads, and male XLR's on the spotlight assemblies....
And, no, no danger of plugging a loudspeaker in!
Thanks
Adrian
Andy Dingley
> Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
> plug/socket.
Klik are neat for lighting, They come cheaply from http://discount-electrical.co.uk
The cable emerges "vertically" from the plug though, so they need more
headroom in a weatherproof box than a normal 13A plug.
You can also use "old school" 2A or 5A round pin plugs and sockets.
However these can be ridiculously overpriced and also of poor quality
(TLC's current supply won't even bolt into a flat box)
I like the XLR idea. I'm just about to go outside and swap some
roundpins for XLRs, which will make a much neater job of things to my
porch light.
Andy Burns
> Maybe the most compact arrangement would be three female XLR's on flying
> leads, and male XLR's on the spotlight assemblies....
Suppose the problem with IEC and XLR is that they're non-shuttered, is
this a house or a shop where you'd have to worry about little Johnny
shoving paperclips into spare outlets?
Adrian Brentnall
slot-together Market stall gets slightly tarted up for indoor use <g>
and I add lighting to show off the stained glass & glass jewellery.
Up to now I've used the Mains GU10's - but I'm nervous of 6 or 9 x 50w
lamps hanging inches below some artily-arranged organza <g> - so the
little led spots seems like a much safer option.
If little Johnny can shove a paperclip into a spare outlet that's 7ft
above ground level then that's his problem! There might be an issue with
stray strands of tinsel, though....
I guess if a spare 'plug' (with a blanked-off cable inlet) was inserted
into any unused sockets, then they're fairly tamper-proof..??
Question is - how complicated do I need to make it all - I don't do that
many indoor shows in a year.....
Thinking about it, it might be a plan to hang an earth
on the metalwork somewhere..... just in case....? Probably overkill!
Decisions, decisions <g>
Toby
"Adrian Brentnall" <adr...@ambquality.co.uk> wrote in message
news:i9h75u$1dk$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Does the socket need to be mounted, or would one on the end of a cable work
for you?
If so, how about these?
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=PL1021087
--
Toby...
Remove pants to reply
tony sayer
<adr...@ambquality.co.uk> scribeth thus
Sound like Speakon connectors. For that matter the XLR series plugs and
sockets have been used for LOW voltage DC and AC connections for a very
long time. They mains version I believe is still around 'tho its not to
be used in domestic applications IIRC..
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getPro
duct&R=3400958&cm_vc=av_uk
--
Tony Sayer
Toby
How about using LED MR16 lamps - they are 12v and can be run from a battery
too!
tony sayer
<to...@bancom.co.uk> scribeth thus
Might be of some use, the mains type is pictured in here..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector
and here..
http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/42-011_NEUTRIK-XLR-LNE-FC
Matey here does some special ones, seems he's a relation to Russ
Andrews;!!!..
http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/ourshop/cat_186720--002-Cable-Burn-
In.html
--
Tony Sayer
Adrian Brentnall
Yes - that's what I was thinking of..
>
> Matey here does some special ones, seems he's a relation to Russ
> Andrews;!!!..
>
> http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/ourshop/cat_186720--002-Cable-Burn-
> In.html
I'm sure the light would be much 'whiter' if I was to avail of his
'cable burn-in service' - probably even go round corners as well !
Do folks really go for all this ? I'm in the wrong business! <g>
I think, on reflection (and seeing a bunch of 'pc / kettle' plugs /
sockets in the 'come-in-useful-one-day' box) that a simple 'daisy-chain'
arrangement using these connectors ('female - hot') would do the trick....
What I'm really after is having the flexibility to run 3 x 3 spots
across the top of my standard 'stand' - and, if I end up with an unusual
configuration of tables / stands, be able to get lighting suitable
adapted - and daisy-chain with extension leads would do that...
Thanks
Adrian Brentnall
> rummage in the junk box and couldn't find any to get a manufacturers
> name off.
>
>
Thanks for looking!
I think the problem may be solved (see my other post)
John Rumm
> HI Folks
> Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
> plug/socket.
How about IEC?
You can get multiway sockets:
http://cpc.farnell.com/powerdata-technologies/h15uiec-10/horizontal-iec-pdu-1-5u-10-way/dp/PL09688
http://cpc.farnell.com/transcension/cabl41/power-block-bulgin-plg-to-4x-iec/dp/DP30199
Then a choice of plugs to suit the application.
--
Cheers,
John.
/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/
Adrian Brentnall
> On 18/10/2010 11:22, Adrian Brentnall wrote:
>> HI Folks
>> Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
>> plug/socket.
>
> How about IEC?
>
> You can get multiway sockets:
> http://cpc.farnell.com/powerdata-technologies/h15uiec-10/horizontal-iec-pdu-1-5u-10-way/dp/PL09688
>
>
> http://cpc.farnell.com/transcension/cabl41/power-block-bulgin-plg-to-4x-iec/dp/DP30199
>
>
> Then a choice of plugs to suit the application.
>
Ah - that's neat,isn't it ?
I think the 'IEC Daisy-chain' is probably going to work best for me -
and I've got a box-full of the necessary cables that can be suitably
butchered (even better!)
Thanks
Mike Tomlinson
<adr...@ambquality.co.uk> writes
> but it'd be very handy to have some sort of miniature
>mains-rated 3-way plug/socket arrangement to allow some flexibility in
>setting up the lighting.
IEC C13/14 plug/sockets? The ready-made moulded cables tend to be
rather inflexible and are rated at 10A, too much for your needs.
However, rewireable plugs and sockets are freely available, light, and
you can choose 3A cable (0.75mm^2) which is light and flexible and easy
to store. You also get to choose your own cable lengths, and can make
up a couple of spares to use as extensions if you need them.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rewirable-IEC-Plug-Male-Black/dp/B003OD7UCG
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rewirable-IEC-Socket-Female-Black/dp/B003ODDLME
--
Mike Tomlinson
Roger Mills
You could probably do with something like
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1206676/The-plug-folds-flat-Sleek-new-design-laptop-generation.html
but I'm not sure whether they're made commercially or not.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Andy Burns
> You could probably do with something like
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1206676/The-plug-folds-flat-Sleek-new-design-laptop-generation.html
>
> but I'm not sure whether they're made commercially or not.
I can't see *that* design ever coming to market, form over function,
there just isn't a good enough way to route the L/N wires though the
rotating joint (the video even shows it shorting them together while
rotated flat when it's supposed to be able to be used flat too).
The USB charger version of this one is at least available, I've been
waiting for the "shaver" version for ages though ...
There is also the (not quite so) slimplug.com version with folding pins,
but anything 13A probably wouldn't help in this case anyway.
Roger Mills
> Roger Mills wrote:
>
>> You could probably do with something like
>> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1206676/The-plug-folds-flat-Sleek-new-design-laptop-generation.html
>>
>>
>> but I'm not sure whether they're made commercially or not.
>
> I can't see *that* design ever coming to market, form over function,
> there just isn't a good enough way to route the L/N wires though the
> rotating joint (the video even shows it shorting them together while
> rotated flat when it's supposed to be able to be used flat too).
>
You're probably right - nice idea if it *did* work, though.
> The USB charger version of this one is at least available, I've been
> waiting for the "shaver" version for ages though ...
>
> http://www.thinplug.com/
>
> There is also the (not quite so) slimplug.com version with folding pins,
> but anything 13A probably wouldn't help in this case anyway.
>
Full size 13A wouldn't be any good - otherwise the OP would just have
used standard plugs. However, the one I cited claimed to be able to use
the plugs flat and stack them - so that several shared one socket, and
only took up the space of one regular plug. But if it doesn't work . .
Mike Harrison
I often use ST18 connectors for semi-permanent mains connections :
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=500006+1011008&Ntk=gensearch_001&Ntt=st18+connector&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial
js.b1
pin plugs or klik plugs-n-sockets which go down to architrave box size.
Adrian Brentnall
I think I'll go with inline IEC for the time being...
Adrian Brentnall
> If the application is commercial, the safest option would be 2A round
> pin plugs or klik plugs-n-sockets which go down to architrave box size.
Tis only myself that will be getting blown up by this <g> -
so I guess that makes it non-commercial.....
IEC seems to be the simplest colution - and I've got a box-full of
'donor' cables in the shed...
Thanks
Dave Plowman (News)
Apart from cost, I've a feeling the LNE connectors ain't approved for
domestic use.
--
*It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
tony sayer
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> scribeth thus
>In article <jaidnf4wKOuzuyHR...@brightview.co.uk>,
> Andy Burns <usenet....@adslpipe.co.uk> wrote:
>> Adrian Brentnall wrote:
>
>> > Any good suggestions for a smaller alternative to the standard 13A
>> > plug/socket.
>> >
>> > Ratings would be 240V - tiny amperage - way less than 3A total
>
>> Shame that panel outlets are for smaller IEC fittings are like hens'
>> teeth, or you could use an C7 outlet with C8 plug if your light fittings
>> are double insulated, or a C5 outlet with C6 plug if you need an earth.
>
>> Maybe the Neutrik XLR/LNE are not such a bad idea (unless you've got
>> other XLRs for speakers around the place!)
>
>Apart from cost, I've a feeling the LNE connectors ain't approved for
>domestic use.
>
There're not, sez so in the Canford reference earlier...
--
Tony Sayer