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Grid switch ratings enquiry

Farmboy
Had an interesting chat with a tech dept this afternoon after coming across some grid switches in a domestic kitchen.


Four grid switches (sharing a common backbox) are each fed via their own 16A cb's, and each feeds 1G sockets (for a cooker hood, fridge freezer, etc). Ignoring the cable sizes (the focus being on the grid switches), given the 13A plug fuses limits the loads in each cct, would you have the current rating of the grid switches equal to or higher than the 16A cb's (e.g. 20A), or lower (but equal to or higher than the socket rating e.g. 13A/14A)?


F
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    Chris Pearson:




    gkenyon:

    This leads to the question "Is it OK for a tumble dryer and a washing machine to be simultaneously plugged into a double socket-outlet?"


    Answers on a postcard to ...




    Ours have been for the past 20-odd years. ?


    Of course, it depends upon the machines. Ours total 5.15 kW = 22 A, which exceeds a double socket's rating of 20 A until diversity comes into play.


     




    20-odd years ago, BS 1363-2 socket-outlets, both double and single, used to be rated for (and marked) 20 A.


    The machines won't use full power all the time, only when heating elements are on, which is why a 20 A socket-outlet would likely be OK, but with 13 A rated double socket-outlets, I would strongly recommend against the use of 2 laundry and/or dishwashing appliances on the same double socket-outlet.

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  • 0

    Chris Pearson:




    gkenyon:

    This leads to the question "Is it OK for a tumble dryer and a washing machine to be simultaneously plugged into a double socket-outlet?"


    Answers on a postcard to ...




    Ours have been for the past 20-odd years. ?


    Of course, it depends upon the machines. Ours total 5.15 kW = 22 A, which exceeds a double socket's rating of 20 A until diversity comes into play.


     




    20-odd years ago, BS 1363-2 socket-outlets, both double and single, used to be rated for (and marked) 20 A.


    The machines won't use full power all the time, only when heating elements are on, which is why a 20 A socket-outlet would likely be OK, but with 13 A rated double socket-outlets, I would strongly recommend against the use of 2 laundry and/or dishwashing appliances on the same double socket-outlet.

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