On Thursday, 13 November 2014 14:23:05 UTC, Chris French wrote:

My fuse says 60 amps, ~ 14.4KW

my water heater cyclinder 3KW
2 storage raidaitors about 2.4KW each.
1 ex storage raidaitor (not removed was 3.4KW)
-----------------------
An electric cooker 2-3KW depending on what's used.
1 bathroom heater ~2kw
2 convector heaters about 2KW each.

So when my CH was first switched on the total would be
3+4.8+3.4 =11.2KW

so in theory without any lights on and switching on my kettle
I get to almost 60A or 14.2KW.

With a TV and 2 computers it doesn't leave me much headway if any.

I exceeded 11.5KW last night at about 12:30am, as I was testing the
alarm function of the energy unit.

Think I'll set my alarm for 13KW



Well, I knew posting that here would get people out of the woodwork :-)

In reality it's unlikely that all those things will be on at the same
time I'd have thought. eg storage heaters are normally timed to come
overnight. and things that are on won't necessarily be drawing current,
if they are thermostat controlled. Things like kettle probably wouldn't
make a difference anyway as they are on for such a short amount of time.

But in a sense that shows how hard it is to draw anywhere near the max
current, especially for any length of time. You need to be using
multiple high load devices to do that.

yes I know reality.
Previously my flatmate worked nights in a night club
so typically got home about 5am, as she put the bath (around 3KW) on
and the oven on(around 3KW) puting the fan heater 1.5KW on (mounted in the bathroom high up) and you can never be sure when the storage radiators fire up or the hot water cyclinder.

and when was the last time you heard of someone
blowing their main fuse?

Personally never, but I've not personally known anyone to die from an
electric shock.

I'm not sure exactly when such a fuse will blow, or rather at what
precise current as that varies with time and temperature.
Might make an intresting practical lab.

I imagine they will continue to draw a bit more than the rated current
for sometime

Yes they do but for how long can I draw 60 amps, and if I were and put the kettle on (3kw) would that be enough to blow it.
This is the reason I'll considering the alarm function.

It is unlikely I'll blow it even less likely if I set an alarm which is why I plan on using it, but I can't help thinking what would happen if I had a shower installed too.

Don't really want to experiment and blow the fuse.
All I have to hand is a tin copper wire fuse guide.
the largest states that 17 swg is 60 amp fuse wire which is only rated at
22amps current carrying at 35C.