Breaker tripping under load

[Kwhitburn]

Hi all,

This appears to be a forum for people who have a clue what they are talking about, unfortunately i dont

I just moved into a studio and after a few days found that the socket fuse keeps tripping, i have read many posts and have tried the suggestions, i have done the following:

• Disconnected all plugs and plugged them in one at a time, in the end it was not the same item tripping the fuse, it turns out that it happens whenever i use something that i would consider heavy use e.g. kettle, or small portable heater (fan)

The electrician has been out and told me i am using too much and overheating the system, it trips many times when i use only three items (2 fitted wall heaters and one 3kw fan heater)

Is this right?

He has suggested i can manage it or new wires will need to be run through the wall.

This seems odd to me but then i dont have a clue.

Help?

Karl

 

[EFLImpudence]

What is the rating of the thing that trips? 16A, 32A, 30mA, 0.03A.

 

[Kwhitburn]

I am looking for a rating, i bought it from Argos and they dont have that information, online they only have:

I can advise this uses a 230-240 wattage, half heat uses 1.5 KW, full heat which uses 3KW operated off a 13 amp plug which will cover all heat settings

I will need to check the kettle, as this has thrown the switch also, is this something i can find on the appliance?

 

[EFLImpudence]

No the rating of the thing that keeps tripping. The socket fuse you called it.

 

[mikeyd]

EFLI asked what is the rating of the thing that trips. You called it a "socket fuse".

 

[Kwhitburn]

Apologies, i wont be able to get that until i am home tonight. I will be home about 7pm and will post. Thanks for your replies so far...

 

[Spark123]

My guess is your electrician is correct. (He probably said "overloading" the system).

 

[kai]

A photo of you fusebox will be of help.

 

[Kwhitburn]

Hi, I have some photos of my fuse box, he did say i was overloading the system but does that mean i have a low grade system? i mean if i cant switch on the kettle, portable heater and 2 small wall heaters do i need to improve the system some how?

In my last place i never had this problem and used to have all manner of things working at the same time, especially when i was doing DIY.

Just noticed the photo has the wrong switch in the down position, the problem is actually the socket switch.

 

[Iggifer]

Well your sockets are on a 16A breaker which works out to (give or take a smidge) 3.7kW

Kettle = 3kW
Heater = 3kW
Small Heater = 1.5kW
Small Heater = 1.5kW

Total Load = 9kW

So yes, you're pulling 2.5 times what the circuit is designed to supply. There must be a reason it's been wired like that.

Are your bills are included in your rent? Is electricity your only means of heating?

3 electric heaters seems like overkill to heat a studio flat. Maybe think about investing in a more efficient type of electric heating? I quite like Oil filled radiators, I'm not a massive fan of standard convection heaters. Expensive and they dry the air out horribly.

 

[Kwhitburn]

That just about explains it then, the last tenant must have had electricity included but before i moved in they fit a new meter. That makes a lot of sense now, maybe i will get an oil filled radiator.

At least i have learned what to look for i future, i will also check how to convert, it will be useful...

Thanks.

 

[Iggifer]

Amps = Watts/Volts (230)
Watts = Amps x Volts

Speak to your landlord, they could probably get the breaker upgraded to a 20A or maybe even a 25A (if available and suitable) - those extra 4(or 9)A might make all the difference to what you can use at once

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

3 electric heaters seems like overkill to heat a studio flat. Maybe think about investing in a more efficient type of electric heating? I quite like Oil filled radiators, I'm not a massive fan of standard convection heaters. Expensive and they dry the air out horribly.

To be honest I don't see how any electric heaters are going to be more efficient that the 100% efficiency of the existing ones. Just more money down the drain in my opinion.

 

[Kwhitburn]

Thanks, i will see about increasing the wattage, the problem is not me, i am happily sitting here with no wall heaters on but when my ex visits, she feels the cold.

I am just in the middle of emailing the landlady, cant wait for the summer, no heaters at all.

 

[Iggifer]

3 electric heaters seems like overkill to heat a studio flat. Maybe think about investing in a more efficient type of electric heating? I quite like Oil filled radiators, I'm not a massive fan of standard convection heaters. Expensive and they dry the air out horribly.

To be honest I don't see how any electric heaters are going to be more efficient that the 100% efficiency of the existing ones. Just more money down the drain in my opinion.

Efficient was probably the wrong choice of wording - the benefits of oil filled rads are that you can use them in a similar fashion to storage heaters. Not saying they'll retain that heat for 8 hours after you've turned them off - but there is some thermal store - useful if you've only got 16A to play with