What do you understand the term "socket outlet to mean? In particular, do you believe that a double socket has one or two of them?
Socket Location for Oven and Hob
- Thread starter garash
- Start date
Sponsored Links
Averaged over them? That’s not what BS1363 says.
The MK technical data sheet says that their double (and single) sockets are rated at "13A per socket outlet". That presumably means that, depending upon how one interprets "socket outlet" (which is why I asked you) a double socket is rated at either 13A or 26A - and, given what you've just said, you seem to believe that it's the latter. Where did your '20A' rating for the MK product come from? The test current for the BS1363 temperature rise test is 20A, so that is the minimum requirement - but that does not in any way prevent MK manufacturing a product which exceeds that minimum requirement, hence with a specified (by them) rating above 20A.
Sponsored Links
It has often been reported on theses forums.
It has often been discussed on these forums that the minimum requirement to satisfy BS1363 is that a double socket has to be able to pass a temperature rise test at 20A total (14A + 6A). It has also often been discussed that this in no way prevents a company manufacturing a product which exceeds that minimum requirement and specifying its rating accordingly.
As I have illustrated, MK specify the rating of their double socket as "13A per socket outlet" which, with your apparent agreement, equates to 26A total (13A x 2 outlets = 26A). If MK specify the rating as 26A total, in what sense can the 'rating' be 20A?
If the rating were 20A, then it would require the protection of a 20A OPD.
Hmmm - you must be hoping that there were no single 13A sockets (each with 'one socket outlet') on the same circuit
Kind Regards, John
No, they are each protected by the plug fuse.
A double that were only rated at 20A with two 13A plug fuses is not.
A double that were only rated at 20A with two 13A plug fuses is not.
That's common sense - but that is not necessarily what we always see in these discussions.
You will recall that some people have made a fuss about having 20A DP switches being wired into ring final circuits, even when their load side was effectively protected by a 13A fuse, because the switch is only 'rated' at 20A, yet it is protected by a 32A OPD.
As I've just illustrated, an MK single socket is 'rated' at only 13A ("one socket output") - so I would have thought that, if they wanted to be consistent, those same people would fuss about single sockets protected by a 32A OPD
Kind Regards, John
Well perhaps I am wrong about a double socket only being rated at 20 amps but I have certainly seen double sockets fail at greater currents, the usual being a washing machine and tumble dryer both in one double socket.
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 23,630
- Reaction score
- 2,662
- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
- Country
Well there are double 13A sockets that are rated at 13A the pair, always seem to be special in some way, USB outlets, filters, or RCD built in, most double sockets are rated at 26 amp the pair.
But those with 13 amp per pair do seem to have a thermal overload built in, this is from MK filtered socket spec.
I do not remember anyone mentioning it before.
I do but that is not the same as connecting a 26A (2x13A) load to that 20A switch.
You are confusing different things.As I've just illustrated, an MK single socket is 'rated' at only 13A ("one socket output") - so I would have thought that, if they wanted to be consistent, those same people would fuss about single sockets protected by a 32A OPD
As I've illustrated, you are wrong in terms of MK's specified rating of their double sockets. However ...
We do, indeed, hear reports of that, but we also hear similar of single sockets used toi supply loads which draw high currents for fairly long periods (again, things like tumble dryers). In those cases the thermal damage is commonly in the vicinity of the L pin, suggesting that heat is generated in/around the plug fuse and/or electrical connections to it. If that's the case, then I would have thought that what was current was being drawn through the 'other outlet' of the double socket would have little to do with the damage.
I don't think I am - rather, I think you are misunderstanding me, and perhaps over-thinking the situation (by applying 'electrical common sense' {which the people we're talking about don't}!) ...
... if one thinks of the 20A switch as a 'black box' with one set of input terminals, then some people are obsessed with the 20A 'rating' of that black box to the extent of saying that those input terminals cannot be connected to a 32A-protected circuit, even if there is a 13A fuse downstream of the load-side terminals of the switch.
If one similarly regards a single 13A socket as "a 'black box' with one set of input terminals" then if they were consistent, wouldn't the same people look at the 13A 'rating' of that black box and say that it cannot be connected to a 32A-protected circuit?
Kind Regards, John
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
