On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 09:58:48 +0100, Gerd Busker
wrote:

The fundamental difference between "continental" installations and UK
installations is that here in the UK the plug is fused. This allows for higher
capacity circuits (such as 30A rings) as you have some degree of over
current protection in the plug.

In Spain, or the Netherlands, there is no fuse in the plug, so you will need
to reduce the circuit rating to keep things safe. In NL most circuits are
fused at 16A.

There's not /that/ much difference between a 30A ring and 2 16A
radials. MCB's are cheap these days, also rings are harder to fault
find and the ring can get a break in it.

Anyway a 13A plug fuse can take 26A for up to 30 mins before breaking,
I'm sure a 16A MCB can do better than that.

cheers,
Pete.