My Proposition:
I want to purchase a replacement generic cable for UK plug sockets ideally but want to run it by you guys here first. I’ve done this with my prusa coreone when I lost the power connector for it and they said it was perfectly okay to do. Inspired by this information, applying the same principle here, I would order 3x cables like this linked below to replace the 3 above:
UK plug is - 230V alternating current (AC) with a frequency of 50Hz, says the internet
Question:
Can I do what I am proposing above? If not for the heavy duty one, any recommendation on specific cables to search for?
Also, does the spindle ‘soft start’ to avoid large current over-spikes? (AI tells me to consider this)
p.s. The only alternative I have otherwise is to use a travel plug converter 2 of those above, (and no idea what to use for the spindle connector), but i’d rather not if i can just replace the entire cable for a compatible one to make my life alot simpler
@Luke So, just to be 100% absolutely crystal-clear in my mind here so I know we’re on the same page:
I CAN buy 3x this same kettle cable (from the amazon link I shared above) and use this said cable for all of the items mentioned as viable power cable replacements to the ones sent from carbide3D:
the 80mm spindle (220V) - really my main reason for my asking for crystal-clarity
the chiller,
the controller, yeah?
I apologise for being so pedantic about it but its just so I know I’ve communicated this properly and there’s no misunderstanding.
If so, I’ll get those on order immediately with great haste and relief!
That “American style plug” is actually an “international” IEC C13 plug. So C13 is the term to search for a compatible cable. Add in “UK” if you want to filter out the cables with an actual “American” NEMA 5-15 plug on the other end.
The cable you found will work for the chiller and controller, and will probably work for the spindle, but it’s fused for 10A. If you ever run too close to full power (which admittedly almost never happens), you may blow that fuse. You should ideally get a heavier duty cable for the spindle if you want to avoid problems.
ah, cool. Might be worth changing the “what you need to provide” section on the shop and the bullet point near the top on the shop page as I had missed that and discounted it when researching for UK purchase.
Interim Solution:
I think I will focus on not maxing out the spindle rpms to start (max out to like 18k rpm’s) to keep the power draw under control for the 10amp cable I currently have. The dreaded ChatGPT indicates 18k rpm would keep it within safe levels:
Ultimate Solution:
I’ll do that with this cable but I’ll look for a better replacement in the meantime. I can’t find any cables that are all: (a) directly IEC C13, to (b) directly UK plug and (c) wire thicknesses rated above 10amps. There’s some that say ‘13 amp fused’ but the wire guages themselves are still only rated for 10amp, so that’s more dangerous than just having the normal 10amp ones. Therefore, I’ll purchase the following as their wires are 1.5mm^2 making them rated to 13 amps, I believe (the 10 amp ones are between 0.75mm^2 - 1mm^2
C20 to UK Plug Power Cable - would prefer this to be 2M instead of 3 but it’s the only listing I’ve seen so far that actively states the 1.5mm^2 wire thickness, without me having to buy it and look at the decal printed on the side of the wire
