<p>The fuse <em>may</em> be academic, because there might be an integrated fuseholder in the PSU itself. That said, adding another fuse in the form of a proper UK plug certainly won't hurt. </p>

<p>I'd certainly do this, too. Fuseless plugs have no place in my home/workplace</p>

<p>For the rest - yes, the 220V position for the switch is good. Grounding, again, certainly can't hurt, but the PSU is probably double-insulated, which doesn't require it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T04:31:59.607Z
The PSU is definitely not double insulated and absolutely requires grounding.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T07:01:02.713Z
@TomvanderZanden How can it even be legal to supply it in the EU without a ground connection, then? (OP said that a UK plug would add grounding, so I was assuming that the plug supplied was two-pin)
SiHa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T09:49:08.967Z
Technically, the cord that comes with the machine is not the 2-pin "Europlug" but Type F/ Shuko/ CEE 7/3, which does NOT fit the Type G used in Britain.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-06T16:14:04.760Z
Thanks, I thought if no one answered then I'd just use a uk plug anyway (better safe than sorry) and you've just made that decision definite for me. Thanks so much.
Andrew Walker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-05T15:18:31.707Z
2020-05-05T15:18:31.707Z
SiHa
<h1>Safety First!</h1>
<p>To guarantee proper grouning and avoid putting the machine on a static charge level against the ground of the house you need to properly connect the ground wires to the ground wire of the house. This is done by using a grounded power cord with a <strong>C13-plug on the machine end</strong> and a proper, grounded plug fitting your sockets on the other end.</p>
<h2>Proper plugs</h2>
<p>In most of the continental EU (safe France), you usually can use a Shuko (Schutzkontakt) TypeF/CEE 7/3 while the Type E+F/CEE 7/7 plug adds France on the house end, as these are proper grounded 3-wire plugs. But in the UK you need a <strong>Type G/BS 1363 plug</strong>, with or without a fuse.</p>
<h2>Fuses</h2>
<p>Because the machine operates on mains voltage in the PSU, it usually already has a fuse mounted inside the PSU, so a fused plug is not strictly needed, however it is not a bad idea to include an extra fuse - technically you'd end with 3 in total if you are properly grounded because the circuits breaker-box fuse is there too.</p>
<h2>Wire Extensions</h2>
<p>What would be a bad idea though is to use any extension cord in the wiring that is not grounded because it might use a plastic ground pin or lack the metal contact surface needed to ground the cord.</p>
<h2>Improper plugs</h2>
<p>A 2-wire &quot;Europlug&quot;. Europlug CEE 7/16 is only rated for 250V/2.5A and <strong>not grounded</strong>, thus it is <strong>not</strong> suitable for operating a 3D printer , and I strongly advise <strong>not</strong> to use a gritish folding plug either as it is not grounded!</p>
<h1>Safety Mantra!</h1>
<p>Let me reiterate this: <strong>Only use grounded connections from machine to socket or you risk creating a charge on the machine!</strong></p>
<p>Check your socket's ground if you are not sure it is properly installed. For further information, I strongly suggest watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1OuYg7AJjw" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Angus (Makers Muse)</a> with how he discovered a problem with his extension cords leading to a potential dangerous charge on his machine and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYZDLOV4Jc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DIY3D Tech</a> explaining the basics of the problem and how to solve it to you again!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T09:16:44.387Z
2020-05-07T09:42:29.810Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
Trish
<p>I've been looking at the Ender series and decided to take the plunge. But I'm unsure on electrical matters. The 110 or 220 volt switch, I assume goes to 220&nbsp;V as I live in the UK but my main question is, from what I've read they come with an EU plug and a uk adapter, is it safer to switch to a 'kettle lead' for it to have it's own fuse and be grounded or is the adapter it comes with fine? <em>(I've never been a fan of adapter and I've read in different places that they're fine or that they are horrible.)</em> </p>

<p>Please help as if I need to buy a cable I'll do it the same time I buy the printer. Thank you all in advance for any help I get, hope to join this community properly as soon as the printers come back in stock anywhere.</p>

<creality-ender-3><electronics><safety><creality-ender-5>
Advice on power supply wiring for the UK
Andrew Walker
# Advice on power supply wiring for the UK

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-04)

I've been looking at the Ender series and decided to take the plunge. But I'm unsure on electrical matters. The 110 or 220 volt switch, I assume goes to 220 V as I live in the UK but my main question is, from what I've read they come with an EU plug and a uk adapter, is it safer to switch to a 'kettle lead' for it to have it's own fuse and be grounded or is the adapter it comes with fine? *(I've never been a fan of adapter and I've read in different places that they're fine or that they are horrible.)*

Please help as if I need to buy a cable I'll do it the same time I buy the printer. Thank you all in advance for any help I get, hope to join this community properly as soon as the printers come back in stock anywhere.

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, electronics, safety, creality-ender-5


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-05. Score: 2

The fuse *may* be academic, because there might be an integrated fuseholder in the PSU itself. That said, adding another fuse in the form of a proper UK plug certainly won't hurt.

I'd certainly do this, too. Fuseless plugs have no place in my home/workplace

For the rest - yes, the 220V position for the switch is good. Grounding, again, certainly can't hurt, but the PSU is probably double-insulated, which doesn't require it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The PSU is definitely not double insulated and absolutely requires grounding.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 How can it even be legal to supply it in the EU without a ground connection, then? (OP said that a UK plug would add grounding, so I was assuming that the plug supplied was two-pin)  
> **username_3**: Technically, the cord that comes with the machine is not the 2-pin "Europlug" but Type F/ Shuko/ CEE 7/3, which does NOT fit the Type G used in Britain.  
> **username_0**: Thanks, I thought if no one answered then I'd just use a uk plug anyway (better safe than sorry) and you've just made that decision definite for me. Thanks so much.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-05-07. Score: 1

# Safety First!

To guarantee proper grouning and avoid putting the machine on a static charge level against the ground of the house you need to properly connect the ground wires to the ground wire of the house. This is done by using a grounded power cord with a **C13-plug on the machine end** and a proper, grounded plug fitting your sockets on the other end.

## Proper plugs

In most of the continental EU (safe France), you usually can use a Shuko (Schutzkontakt) TypeF/CEE 7/3 while the Type E+F/CEE 7/7 plug adds France on the house end, as these are proper grounded 3-wire plugs. But in the UK you need a **Type G/BS 1363 plug**, with or without a fuse.

## Fuses

Because the machine operates on mains voltage in the PSU, it usually already has a fuse mounted inside the PSU, so a fused plug is not strictly needed, however it is not a bad idea to include an extra fuse - technically you'd end with 3 in total if you are properly grounded because the circuits breaker-box fuse is there too.

## Wire Extensions

What would be a bad idea though is to use any extension cord in the wiring that is not grounded because it might use a plastic ground pin or lack the metal contact surface needed to ground the cord.

## Improper plugs

A 2-wire "Europlug". Europlug CEE 7/16 is only rated for 250V/2.5A and **not grounded**, thus it is **not** suitable for operating a 3D printer , and I strongly advise **not** to use a gritish folding plug either as it is not grounded!

# Safety Mantra!

Let me reiterate this: **Only use grounded connections from machine to socket or you risk creating a charge on the machine!**

Check your socket's ground if you are not sure it is properly installed. For further information, I strongly suggest watch [Angus (Makers Muse)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1OuYg7AJjw) with how he discovered a problem with his extension cords leading to a potential dangerous charge on his machine and [DIY3D Tech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jYZDLOV4Jc) explaining the basics of the problem and how to solve it to you again!


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