"Major Scott" writes:

On Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:53:34 +0100, Alexander Lamaison
wrote:

Tim Watts writes:

On Monday 01 April 2013 20:14 Major Scott wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:31:04 +0100, Tim Watts
wrote:


A double socket is rated at 20A max total

Surely there would be thousands of people plugging in two 3kW loads and
melting them.....


Apparantly not.

I'm sure Tim's right simply because I've seen the 20A quoted so many
times. But I'd love to know where it comes from. Is this figure in BS
1363?

How many (non-electrician) people will know not to stick two high
powered devices in a double socket? Take a kitchen for example, where
lots of things have heaters. Dishwasher, washing machine, tumble
dryer, .....

So, they've made something which is unprotected by a fuse which can
take only two thirds of the protection of the ring main fuse/breaker.
How stupid is that?

I think (the electricians will correct me if I'm wrong) the problem with
your statement is that 'take' is too imprecise. They're not
firecrackers. They don't get to 20A and pop. The 20A load would have
to be pulled continuosly for hours and hours before it mattered.

Instinctively, it seems dangerous, but if you have a think how you would
arrange for a 20A load that never turned off you'll see that it's pretty
difficult.

Alex

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