"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote:

Several hundred dollars worth of 12 gauge Romex and accessories were
involved. Simple things like putting the garbage disposal, microwave,
and toaster oven each on their own circuits make a big difference.

Romex is roughly what we call Twin and Earth in the UK?

Googling shows pictures that are nearly identical if not exactly identical.

What you're saying is radial circuits are commonly overloaded in some way?

Not commonly, but occasionally in older dwellings. Most of what you are
talking about is due to motor starting surges, so the light dimming is
pretty much cosmetic. Not that I would intentionally tolerate it.

All of those (and more) would work just fine on the one UK circuit.

Given that our toaster ovens use up about 95% of a 15 amp circuit, two of
them put a quick end to 15a fuses and pretty quickly open 15a breakers. The
larger microwaves are only a little lighter on the draw, so a microwave and
a toaster oven on the same circuit won't be very relaible, either. Ditto for
our larger electric coffee and tea pots. I don't know how to get around
that.


Current price for 2.5mm TW&E in the UK (for final ring circuits) is about
45 gbp per 100 mtrs before tax.

That checks out.


If my tables are right, 2.5 mm is about 10 gauge, which is a lot more
copper than our 12 gauge. Almost twice as much. We consider 10 gauge to be
suitable for 30 amp wiring, which would indeed handle two devices from the
list microwaves, toasters, coffee pots, etc. A garbage disposal could run
on the same circuit without tripping or frying anything. Probably no light
dimming, either. And, that is at 120 volts!

250 feet of 10/3 romex runs about $200. I wonder why people aren't
importing wire from the UK - your prices are pretty cheap!

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