On 28 Sep 2003 08:21:22 -0700, Pandora wrote:

snip

The point of my original post was not how expensive or inefficient it
would be to use all the above at the same time. It is that, worst
case, you could conceivably consume near the 100A single phase limit
with standard appliances.

Yes, but you really do need to try and grasp the principle of diversity.
If you switch every single appliance in your house on the same time, it
is very likely that you would exceed the maximum design ratings of the
supply equipment or the installation. But, and it's a very big but, that
load *will* fall off as thermostats start to operate. Electrical cables
and mains fuses are more than capable of withstanding overloads (as
distinct from faults) for short periods of time, although the
installation fuses or mcb's may operate.

It might surprise you to learn that the after-diversity maximum demand
per dwelling on a non-electric heating estate of say 50 houses for
design purposes could be a low as 1.5 to 2kva per dwelling, although
each dwelling could have some 15 to 20kva of load installed! The mains
distribution equipment installed will have a notional maximum load of 75
to 100 kva, not 750 to 1,000kva.