I see what you are saying now. The socket end if it states 10amp then thats what it is rated at. The plug is rated at 13a but you can put in different fuses. So for the 10amp socket end you would put a 10amp or less fuse in the plug to protect the cable and socket end.rowyourboat wrote:Thanks all for the responses so far - knowledge on this forum is always invaluable to a slightly out-of-my-depth, figuring it out as I go novice like me.
I've probably muddled up socket and plug in my post above (past my bedtime when writing last night). The mains 3-pin plug has a 13A fuse in it but the actual C15 socket at the other end says 10A on it, as does the packaging for the product.
Regarding my current cable, I should have been clearer that is was the C15 socket rather than the cable itself that was showing signs of melting/deteriorating. It's a 10A connector from Maplin http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-10a-ho ... cket-n08kc to connect to budget elements (dismantled Tesco kettle) in a plastic bin and I'd guessed it just had a limited life (unless I did something wrong when I wired it up originally). I've bought a new boiler recently but ideally want to use this still to heat my sparge water.
I don't have the new cable with me as I'm at work but will check what other details it says - but sounding like my gut instinct to send it back is the right thing to do though (and that the seller knows about as much as I do about this stuff).
Basically alot of equipment is sold with the 3 pin type plugs on with a 13amp fuse in it. The cable should be rated at above 13amp if supplied with the 13amp fuse.