On Feb 8, 10:26*am, Roger Mills wrote:
On 08/02/2012 09:19, Keefiedee wrote:

Can someone shed any light on this as it is puzzling me? *Looking on
eBay for "UK 3 Pin 24HR 24 Hour Timer Programmable Mains Wall Home
Socket Plug-IN Switch", these are generally rated at 3200 or 3000
watts - yet they all look the same, and the one with the 3200 rating
also includes a warning that it is not to be used for washing machines
- which is exactly what I do want it for. *I haven't scrabbled round
the back of my washing machine to see what wattage it is, but I can't
see it being more than 3000 watts, so why should there be this
warning?

Keith

The important characteristic is how much current it can switch. 3200
watts is 13 amps - but some devices have much higher startup currents
than this - which are not sustained for long enough to blow the fuse but
which could nevertheless wreck the contacts in a time switch. Maybe
washing machines come in the category?

If that were the problem it wouldnt be washing machines they dont
recommend, it would be appliances with high startup current.

And why would any timer manufacturer save 0.5p by shrinking the
contacts to the point where they couldnt cope with any 13A load.


NT