current from a double socket

[paulpa66]

I have disco equipment. Anyone here know if i,m pulling 11 amp from my lights, and 5 amp+ from the sound side of the kit. Am i ok plugging the sound side(5 amp) into one socket of a double wall socket, and the lights (11 amp) into the other socket? Or should i use seperate wall sockets. This is UK 240v 13 amp sockets?
Paul

 

[plugwash]

you shouldn't really draw more than 13A total from a double socket though in practice you will almost certainly get away with it at least for short duration loads.

 

[paulpa66]

so should i plug into two seperate sockets, 11 amp from one and 5 amp from the other?

 

[Steve]

so should i plug into two seperate sockets, 11 amp from one and 5 amp from the other?

11 amps is a lot. Try plugging the lights into a plug-in meter and measure the current. It may not be that much, given that some of your lights probably flash etc.

 

[breezer]

i was thinking simialr, but if they are say helicopters they dont usualy flash, just spin, similarly moon lights are on and change colour, my how times have changed.

Best thing to ask is, what lights are actually present?

 

[The Pink Panther]

It does not matter as they both have fuses in the plugtops.A 13a sockets do not mean no more than 13a may be pulled.It's merely a term for the facility to use of a plugtop.

 

[Steve]

It does not matter as they both have fuses in the plugtops.A 13a sockets do not mean no more than 13a may be pulled.It's merely a term for the facility to use of a plugtop.

There was a thread on this a while back, a 13A double socket is only spec'd to supply about 13-15A, depending on the manufacturer. Loophole somewhere in the regs or something. MK make theirs to a higher current spec, but still only 20A-ish.

 

[Adam_151]

It does not matter as they both have fuses in the plugtops.A 13a sockets do not mean no more than 13a may be pulled.It's merely a term for the facility to use of a plugtop.

similarly the fact that a car says its for unleaded petrol, thats just merely a term for the facility to use unleaded fuel, I could use 4 star, diesel or even vodka in it...

 

[paulpa66]

the lights total over 2kw, 1200w of that flashes but can be put into flood mode(all on) the othere total 1200w and are on all the time, scanners and moon lights.

 

[paulpa66]

Can anyone recommend where to get one and what they are called so i can do a search for one.
Cheers
Paul

 

[pdcelec]

Can anyone recommend where to get one and what they are called so i can do a search for one.
Cheers
Paul

Get what?

 

[paulpa66]

"11 amps is a lot. Try plugging the lights into a plug-in meter and measure the current"

 

[andy]

"11 amps is a lot. Try plugging the lights into a plug-in meter and measure the current"

electrical wholesaler. your after a clamp meter

 

[plugwash]

no your not, measuring the power of a plugged in device using a clamp meter would be a real PITA (proabblly involving making a special extention lead with the cores seperate using something like test lead wire).

you can buy plug in meters for measuring the current drawn (among other things) from a single appliance. As for where to get them i'm pretty sure i've seen them in maplin but they probablly aren't the cheapest source.

 

[TraineeSpark]

Mate, sorry nobody else has told you this, but if you are plugging both equipment into sockets on the same circuit, it dont matter if its double or single sockets. you are still drawing the same current off the same circuit,

TS