On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:00:30 -0700 (PDT), NT
wrote:


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.


Where do you get that amps figure from ?

What is your figure for the inrush current?

You have measured it ?

From
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Typical_current_draw_for_a_refrigerator

Typical current draw for a refrigerator?

My 20 year old upright freezer is about 10A starting, 3.27 amp running
(263 watts)

My 10 year old fridge is very similar

(Figures from the US)

Derek