On Oct 11, 1:58*am, John Rumm wrote:
NT wrote:
Startup current isn't an issue. A 1/4A fridge might eat 10x = 2.5A or
16x = 4A during startup, and even bell wire can handle that.

Its not damage to the cable you are worried about, but drop in voltage.


Yup.

0.5mm2 bell wire has 88mV drop per amp per metre. A modern 60w fridge
thus sees 22mV per metre drop.

Lets say the lead is a huge 10m long, giving 0.44v total drop. So the
230v rated fridge, which must be capable of operating on the lower
limit of French 220v, ie only a bit over 200v, thus sees 240v - 0.44v
= 239.56v.

Sensible extension leads have even less effect.


NT