Apologies if this is a dumb question.

I have an electrical appliance that needs to be wired to a 3a unswitched fused spur. I intend to have this done, but wanted to set it up beforehand so I was considering just connecting to the mains temporarily using a lead with a 3a plug.

Will this be safe?

should be fine, best to share what appliance this is though.

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except wine~o also meant to say,

"as long as it isn't in a bathroom"

didn't he.

It's an intruder alarm. Basically I'll be installing it in another property, but want to have a play around with it first.

That's fine. If the alarm is going to be on a bench or table while you test it put a knot in the temp supply cable inside the alarm panel so that the cable cannot be pulled out of the screw terminals.

And

The only "problem" with that is you will not be able to test it, unless you add some devices, (most now require resistors, not just closed loops, or if its radio you will need several devices)

My point being, its usually better to install it, then "play with it" by all means read the manual cover to cover then side to side, but I wouldn't recommend your idea, for the afore mentioned reasons. (Nothing wrong with plugging it in, its just how will you test it with nothing connected?)

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Fret not, a forum is a collection of opinions. Above, are mine.

Which is correct? Metre or Meter? Click the link to find out more.

Working on anything electrical? have you got a multi meter? why not? Would you hit a nail with a shoe?

If gloom had a voice, it would be me.

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That's like someone saying they want to test drive a car and 'you' suggesting they need to put fuel in it first........

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sent from my laptop using my fingers - because we REALLY need to know where it's come from.....

Not at all, just the truth.

How is he going to "Test" is if there is nothing connected to it? answer, he can't. He won't know if (for example) the exit time is too long, he won't know if the external siren works, the list goes on.
So I am saying its pointless "Testing / playing with it" on the bench unless there is something to connect it to, so if you are going to do that may as well install it and only install it the once.

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Fret not, a forum is a collection of opinions. Above, are mine.

Which is correct? Metre or Meter? Click the link to find out more.

Working on anything electrical? have you got a multi meter? why not? Would you hit a nail with a shoe?

If gloom had a voice, it would be me.

How to post a picture on this forum Click here

It could be wireless

In this case, I suspect the unswitched fused connection is recommended simply to stop people unplugging or switching the alarm off by accident. For just setting it up then, electrically, I see no problem with using an equivalent 3A fused plug instead.

If it is programmable, then perhaps check it has a non-volatile memory to retain settings when you transfer. But almost all do these days, or else can be sustained by the battery whilst you transfer it to the proper circuit; it would be very rare not to.

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Kev

The plug and fuse was never a question.

It's the "testing" (on the bench) I am seeing as pointless. Also pointless programming it in case what is on site is not what you thought was there. (Even though its supposed to be there)
I can understand if its your first time with a new panel, but then you will want to set up some devices to see what it can / can't do compared to your usual panel, or if you want to set it up to save time, again how will you know its right, and if you are familiar with the panel then setting up will not take long on site. Not to mention radio devices and foil lined plaster board walls

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Fret not, a forum is a collection of opinions. Above, are mine.

Which is correct? Metre or Meter? Click the link to find out more.

Working on anything electrical? have you got a multi meter? why not? Would you hit a nail with a shoe?

If gloom had a voice, it would be me.

How to post a picture on this forum Click here

I believe that you and i may have understood the OP differently, then. Which is fine, but different horses and all that.

FWIW prior testing has been most valuable to me in the past with first use of unfamiliar alarms, so I will not dismiss it without more info.

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Kev

Thanks for all the responses. :)

I haven't got round to it yet, but to respond to some of the questions around testing etc... It's a wireless alarm and really all I intend to do is to familiarise myself with things like:

- How to connect the wireless keypad and a PIRs
- Connecting the control panel to my laptop and using the software to fine tune configuration

I've read the cover from page to page a number of times, but the manuals are no substitute for having a go! Fully appreciate I won't be able to fully configure it etc...