Jim Michaels wrote:
On 12 Jul 2005 09:04:23 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

Google seems to indicate that your toasters and bread makers are the
same wattage as ours.

Most I've have has been 3kW, 240v 13A. One ancient one was 240v 15A,
from the round pin days.


Your steam irons appear to range from the same to about 20% higher
wattage. How does this effect their use?, do you iron asbestos
clothes?

heatup time. 3kW electric kettles are common here.


Two 1.5kW electric fires produce the same heat as one 3kW and are more
versatile.

no


Admittedly grilling and frying are not usually done on portable units
in the US. but yours seem to max out at only 1900watts.

US Portable power tools are up to 1,800watt. A large router is an
example.

What portable tools do you have that are more than this?

There are some, especially older ex-commercial equipment, but as you
say the majority are under 2kW


Are you hiding the two man SDS Plus Plus Plus drills?

Lol!

Even a 29kg road breaker is only 1.9kW. Welders are liable to be 13A or
more. Screwfix chopsaw 32129 is 2.4kW, 63319 is 2.2kW. 130A welders eg
63152, 17764, 12219 run on a 13A plug.


Google does not seem to find any UK microwaves over 1,000 watt output.
US full size units are also 1,000 watt output.

input power is what counts. Output is only around 50% of input, if
rated honestly. Theyre no longer rated honestly of course, since the
late 90s high optimism IEE ratings took over.


Another example is vacuum cleaners. On the face of it, you do have
identical models, but they are all lower power.

IIUC american portable power appliances are rated very differently,
often being rated on surge or startup power to give most optimistic
figures. Makes it very hard to compare.


We have 1400 and 1500 watt units available from the major
manufacturers

hard to know what those ratings really mean in US.


NT