double socket amps

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Hi
Quick question....
In my lounge i have a double plug socket
What is the maximum amps i can use on each please?
Is it 26amps = 13amps per socket
or is it 13amps divided between the two = 6.5 each socket??
Thanks
 
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20 amps in total, because of the test described in BS1363-2...

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Thanks, very interesting.
Does this mean I have to no more than 14a in one socket and no more than 6a in the other?
Or can I have 10a in each?
 
It's a 13a plug in each, so you can have 13 and 7, or 10 and 10, or any combo that adds up to 20. They just test it at 14 to maximise the heat produced for the test.

In my lounge

If this is for TV, Playstation, sky box, router, blu-ray, cctv box, surround sound, etc, etc, they are all low power items, you won't reach anywhere near 20A BTW. I have two 8-gang extension leads behind my main TV, totally fine.
 
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It's a 13a plug in each, so you can have 13 and 7, or 10 and 10, or any combo that adds up to 20. They just test it at 14 to maximise the heat produced for the test.



If this is for TV, Playstation, sky box, router, blu-ray, cctv box, surround sound, etc, etc, they are all low power items, you won't reach any where near 20A BTW. I have two 8-gang extension leads behind my main TV, totally fine.
its for my wife's odds and sods, she will be using a sewing machine, hairdryer, table lamp, pc and occasionally a iron, but not all at the same time.
 
Just keep the hair dryer and the iron on separate extension leads then, they are the only powerful items. Depending on the exact watts of her items, they would probably just about be fine fed from a single plug, but always spread the load out where possible.
 
Just keep the hair dryer and the iron on separate extension leads
And get a fire extinguisher and some burns dressings if she's going to attempt to use a hairdrier and an iron at the same time.
 
Ah true - I'd forgotten that modern irons take so loooooong to heat up that you have to start them well in advance.

If you try the approach of plugging it in and then going to get the items to be ironed, and getting the first one laid out on the board, you'll have no chance, will you.

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20 amps in total, because of the test described in BS1363-2...
At least 20A total - "because of the test described in BS1363-2". There is no reason why a manufacturer cannot produce a BS1363-compliant socket which exceeds the minimum requirement of BS1363.

If it's BS1363-compliant, then one knows that the maximum must be at least 20A (at least, with 14A+6A, as below!), but only the manufacturer can indicate what the total 'rating' of their socket (if >20A) actually is. However, the language they use can be ambiguous - MK, for example, say that the 'rating' of their double sockets is 13A "per socket outlet" - which means a total of either 13A or 26A, depending upon one's understanding of the meaning of "socket outlet"!

For the pedantic, even the BS1363-2 test theoretically does not guarantee that a socket could tolerate, say 10A + 10A (rather than the 14A + 6A specified for the test)!

Kind Regards, John
 
So is one potentially better off fitting single gang sockets (in the event of them wanting to pull heavy loads)?
 
So is one potentially better off fitting single gang sockets (in the event of them wanting to pull heavy loads)?
That certainly is one 'very safe' approach, since it removes all uncertainties - since I don't think anyone would disagree with the fact that a single socket is not designed/'rated' to carry up to 13A.

It is also true that, whilst many people have not experienced this, some people do report problems (damage due to overheating) when two 'heavy' loads (e.g. a tumble dryer and washing machine) have been fed from one double socket.

Kind Regards, John
 

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