I agree - but that would only affect the UK socket, plug and fuse, not the cables.
Make, and model please!
Given the absence of any regulations relating to diversity (beyond a statement in BS7671 along the lines that 'diversity may be applied where appropriate'), all you could hope for would be a number of (probably differing!) opinions - a 'definitive answer' simply does not exist. Most people seem to rely on the OSG for guidance about diversity, but many aspects of that guidance seem to be outdated, and, in particular, doesn't distinguish between microwave ovens and any other sort of 'cooking appliance'.
Does not the whole concept of diversity (and, indeed, the concept of ring final circuits) accept that small (maybe even 'appreciable') 'overloads' which are not "of extended duration" are acceptable - and, although "of extended duration" or "for appreciable periods of time" are nowhere explicitly defined, they seem to be generally taken to mean at least half an hour, possibly appreciably more than that (perhaps not unreasonably, give than it seems to be implicitly accepted that the current through an MCB, RCBO, fuse or cable {and, my implication, any connected accessories} can exceed its 'rated maximum' by a factor or 45% for an hour without anything coming to harm).
Although one cannot knock a cautious approach, I'm not sure that diversity even requires concern about the UK plug/socket/fuse. Would you be saying the same if it were, say, an oven (fitted with a 13A plug) with a before-diversity max current >13A but an after-diversity current <13A - or, indeed, if it were a ~30A (pre-diversity) cooking appliance (which therefore represented a 16A after-diversity load) and which was protected by a B16 MCB?
That's probably the most relevant point. I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a domestic microwave oven which ought to have a maximum current draw of much more than half of "16A", certainly nothing as high as 13A.
Well, I might because of the nature of UK sockets and plugs rather than the diversity aspect.
I would not be concerned about that as it is the accepted way of doing it and does not involve a socket and plug.
So, the discussion is moot and is just querying manufacturers' incorrect instructions.
I think there are essentially two questions. The first is the hypothetical one as to whether it would (because of diversity) be acceptable to feed something which really was "a 16A microwave" via a 13A UK plug/socket. The second question (the answer to which probably makes the first one hypothetical/moot) is whether there is such a thing as a "16A" domestic microwave oven - which I personally very much doubt.
Yes, I suppose that is correct - but nothing to do with the diversity aspect.
Yes, perhaps it is just the fuse holder and rivets.
If you mean a true 16A load which cycled on and off - the diversity being solely time related - I would not be keen.
I agree. I think that is probably not a coincidence.
It's interesting that this discussion is becoming rather wider and more complicated than the diversity ones usually are. To be sure I'm understanding, can you confirm that the following are your view....
Yes, I think most of us have seen both of those 'extremes'. Unless there is a surprising amount of manufacturing and/or environmental variation, that seems to suggest that there is no fundamental reason why BS1363 plugs/sockets cannot satisfactorily carry 'full currents' for long periods of time, and that when such service does result in problems, one perhaps needs to look at how well they have been installed (and/or look for unusually harsh environmental conditions)
Fair enough, but I wonder whether you are perhaps making a distinction which isn't necessarily all that 'real'. Given that not many (at least, 'traditional') cooking appliances have any 'modulation' of the heat-producing components (elements etc.) most of the diversity with them is also "soley time-related", with a finite (certainly not zero) probability that all parts of the potential maximum load will be drawing full current simultaneously at times.
One problem with having an unfused 'connection point' (rather than a plug or FCU with a 13A fuse, if that would be suitable), is that, with a 32A circuit, you might then run into (possibly 'genuine') problems of the adequacy of the microwaves flex to be protected by a 32A OPD) and much more likely to run into issues (which many would suggest could/should be ignored!) of the manufacturer 'insisting' on 16A protection for the appliance!
What was being dimmed - the lighting of a small sports stadium?
I think that extension flex reels often had (and still have) 'overload trip buttons' if the cable was not capable of supporting 13A (I've certainly still got some "6A" ones which have such cutouts), but I think it's more common these days for reels to have thermal cutouts, to deal with a situation in which the 'overload' (overheating) arises because cable is left on the reel during use, rather than because the actual current is greater than 'what it says on the tin'.
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