wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Uncle Peter wrote

A lot of things might use 4 times the rated load for a bit.

**** all do in fact.

Quite; motors, filament lights, halogen lighting, transformers, diode/cap
input PSUs such as computers, wallwarts etc, none of these things exist.

**** all of those take 4 times the rated load for any
real time at all as far as a breaker is concerned.

Doesn't explain why there has been a big drop in electrical fires.
Corse that may be due to the much better insulation used now.

PVC cable insulation hasn't changed since it was introduced over half a
century ago.

But it was the stuff used before that that was responsible
for the bulk of the electrical fires as it deteriorated with age.