Old Round Pin Plug/socket

[ACIDTECHNO]

I'm selling an old aunts house (she died) and was going to vacuum it today when I realised it still has those ancient round pin sockets upstairs. It seems the house was rewired downstairs but not up. I understand you can't simply remove this socket and fit a modern one, but can you do what it seems she's been doing (see pic)? It seems she's changed the modern plug on an extension lead for an old round one, and plugged her clock radio in. Come to think of it, she must have plugged her vacuum in as there's no other way she could vacuum upstairs.
Could I put on old round pin plug on a modern hoover to use upstairs? (I suspect not, but what can I do?)

Untitled

• ACIDTECHNO
• 3 Mar 2009
• 1

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[Spark123]

The down side of those 15A round pin plugs are they are not normally fused, hence the only protection is that in the consumer unit upstream. Is probably well due for a rewire anyway given the age of those sockets!
You can purchase a fused version of the round 15A pin plug at about £8 a go from CPC, or you may have luck on ebay.

 

[RF Lighting]

Thats a 5amp socket

 

[Spark123]

Bah - just checked on ebay and have had a refund for some I just won a few days back as they are out of stock

 

[bernardgreen]

Could I put on old round pin plug on a modern hoover to use upstairs? (I suspect not, but what can I do?)

Use an extension lead from a socket downstairs. And be careful about not tripping over the extension lead trailing up the stairs.

 

[ACIDTECHNO]

So I could get a fused round pin plug and put it on my Henry (vacuum cleaner) and it would be OK?

If it is a 5 amp socket, would that make any difference?

Would there be any danger just plugging vacuum into her extension, like it looks like she's been doing?

House definitely could do with rewire, along with a few other jobs, but I'm going to sell it as it is.

 

[ACIDTECHNO]

Oops - posts crossed.

I did intend using extension from downstairs, but haven't got one that long (it would have to be pretty long).

 

[Spark123]

Sadly, the normal henry is rated at 1200w so is just and so too big to plug into a 5A socket

 

[Adam_151]

Sadly, the normal henry is rated at 1200w so is just and so too big to plug into a 5A socket

Like the BS3036 will care

 

[Spark123]

could be a BS1361

 

[electronicsuk]

Sadly, the normal henry is rated at 1200w so is just and so too big to plug into a 5A socket

Perhaps not. These sockets will no doubt be from a time long before we harmonised to 230v. Handily, 1200w @ 240v is 5A

 

[plugwash]

It seems she's changed the modern plug on an extension lead for an old round one, and plugged her clock radio in. Come to think of it, she must have plugged her vacuum in as there's no other way she could vacuum upstairs.

Not so unreasonable though it must be remembered that the round pins plugs are usually not fused. so care must be taken to provide suitable protection against overloading.

The real question is what is the wiring made of?
If it's VIR (and it probablly is) then it's well past it's sell by date
The sockets downstairs being replaced DOES NOT nessacerally mean they have been rewired!
The place needs it's electrics inspected and most likely rewiring ASAP.

 

[ColJack]

I wouldn't bother vacuming, your electrician is going to make a hell of a mess rewiring the place..

how will you get a passable PIR for the HIPS otherwise?

 

[Spark123]

Perhaps not. These sockets will no doubt be from a time long before we harmonised to 230v. Handily, 1200w @ 240v is 5A

But henry is 1200w @ 230v

 

[dannyboi2003]

I think some of the guys have missed the fact that your selling the house. If your just going to be running the hoover round to tidy things up then using the extension pictured will be fine. The new owners of the property can worry about re-wiring the house when they buy it.