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Theo Markettos Theo Markettos is offline
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Default Dumb question ? - fridges / extension leads

ARWadsworth wrote:

"Colin Wilson" o.uk wrote
in message ...
pull quite high inrush currents (fom 5*In to 9*In). Add too much extra
resistance and the motor may stall on startup.


That said, it wouldn't be dangling off a reel, it'd be the shortest
uncoiled extension / adaptor I could find just to assist access, as


I cannot see a small extension like that causing a problem.


We have three fridges chained on two 4-way adaptors and haven't had any
starting problems. (There's only two sockets on that side of the room and
the other one is used by the toaster so no other way to plug them). I
hadn't thought about the inrush current when there's a power cut and they
all startup together... but the inrush /was/ a problem when I put one on a
plugin power meter and it tripped the 1KW software-set overcurrent. Set the
overcurrent to 3KW [1] and it was fine).

Presumably there are big problems after a power cut when everyone's
appliances pull their inrush at the same time, which is when I might expect
voltage drops and starting problems.


Theo

[1] I'm not sure 'overpower' is the right word, but on this meter you set
the maximum power draw rather than current.