On 15/05/2018 11:17, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Lea Goldberg m wrote:
.so,for the first 2 years,my comet kiln worked perfectly...then the
socket burnt out,replaced it(always ised a professional electrician)thos
time,socket switches got hardrr and harder to switch on,then the socket
stopped working again,replaced the whole unit...now its happened
again...the socket is about 20 ft via armoured cable to the house,the
kiln room isnt damp...the kilns fine,but the plug gets a bit hot(when it
worked)the electrician seems to be baffled...'must be your kiln'...but i
know nothing about electrics so cant argue the toss!can ANYONE
help...its driving me mad....

Despite being rated at 13 amps, most sockets and plugs aren't happy to
carry that for very long periods. They are a domestic connector and really
for intermittent use at full capacity. As with a kettle or washing machine
etc. Hence things like 13 amp water heaters normally not plugged in, but
hard wired. Same sort of thing with storage rads.

Indeed. 3kW is pushing it on a standard plug and socket for a near
continuous load. They are fine for intermittent loads like kettles.

ISTR there is a revision that recommends no portable appliances with
load 2.4kW due to the fragile nature of nominally 13A plug and sockets.

Even more so if cooling to the socket/plug is restricted in any way.

The answer is to go for an industrial 16 amp plug and socket - if indeed
it has to have a plug/socket arrangement.

+1

Or hardwired fused spur like a hot water cylinder immersion heater.

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Regards,
Martin Brown