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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:

    BS1363-2:2016+A1:2018


    Section 3: definitions

    "socket-outlet" accessory having a set of three socket-contacts designed to engage with the pins of a corresponding plug ...

    "multiple socket outlet" combination of two or more socket outlets


    Section 6: classification and rating

    6.1 The rated current of all socket-outlets shall be 13 A


    Section 16 specifies 14 A + 6 A for temperature testing.


    It must be that every BS1363 socket can safely supply 13 A indefinitely because that is what users are entitled to expect of them. Nowhere does it say that the total of a multiple socket-outlet is limited to 13 A. It is not expressly stated, but if a twin socket-outlet may safely supply 14 A + 6 A for at least 4 hours with a stable temperature, it may be inferred that it is safe to do so.




    Am I reading this differently from everyone else? If a 'multiple socket outlet' is a combination of two or more socket outlets and the rated current of all socket-outlets shall be 13A, surely this means a multiple socket outlet with two socket outlets must be rated at 13A + 13A, or 26A for the unit. Or is this wrong?

    Alasdair

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  • 0

    Chris Pearson:

    BS1363-2:2016+A1:2018


    Section 3: definitions

    "socket-outlet" accessory having a set of three socket-contacts designed to engage with the pins of a corresponding plug ...

    "multiple socket outlet" combination of two or more socket outlets


    Section 6: classification and rating

    6.1 The rated current of all socket-outlets shall be 13 A


    Section 16 specifies 14 A + 6 A for temperature testing.


    It must be that every BS1363 socket can safely supply 13 A indefinitely because that is what users are entitled to expect of them. Nowhere does it say that the total of a multiple socket-outlet is limited to 13 A. It is not expressly stated, but if a twin socket-outlet may safely supply 14 A + 6 A for at least 4 hours with a stable temperature, it may be inferred that it is safe to do so.




    Am I reading this differently from everyone else? If a 'multiple socket outlet' is a combination of two or more socket outlets and the rated current of all socket-outlets shall be 13A, surely this means a multiple socket outlet with two socket outlets must be rated at 13A + 13A, or 26A for the unit. Or is this wrong?

    Alasdair

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