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Immersion Heater & 13 Amp socket.

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We were discussing the rating of 13 Amp sockets recently, both double and single types. The rating seems to be 13 Amp. as indicated on the back of the accessories. Yesterday I had to replace a 13 Amp. single socket that became faulty. It supplied a 3000 Watt water heater. Did the 13  Amp plug burn out? No. Did the socket burn out? No. But the socket switch terminals welded together and would not switch off. So I fitted a 20 Amp double pole switch instead. So, even if a 13 Amp. socket is marked 13 Amp. it may not deliver 13 Amps. reliably, perhaps the makers apply "diversity" when calculating the load current and sizing the contacts for their 13 Amp sockets.


Z.
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    I think that there is a growing acceptance that 13 amp plugs and sockets can not safely and reliably carry a full 13 amps other than briefly.

    My view is that 10 amps is the sensible upper limit for continual loading.

    Apart from electric kettles which are fine in view of the very short term use, almost no modern domestic appliances use more than 10 amps.


    In my view a 13 amp plug and socket SHOULD be able to survive long term use at 110% of the nominal loading in order to allow for manufacturing tolerances of the connected load and variations in the supply voltage. AND should also be able to survive loading to 20 amps for the time that it takes for the 13 amp fuse to operate.

    In practice though this is not the case.


    I would consider it to be very poor practice to connect a 3Kw immersion heater via a 13 amp plug and socket. A 2 Kw immersion heater should be fine, but I am not very keen on the idea due to risk of a 3Kw replacement being fitted.
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  • 0
    I think that there is a growing acceptance that 13 amp plugs and sockets can not safely and reliably carry a full 13 amps other than briefly.

    My view is that 10 amps is the sensible upper limit for continual loading.

    Apart from electric kettles which are fine in view of the very short term use, almost no modern domestic appliances use more than 10 amps.


    In my view a 13 amp plug and socket SHOULD be able to survive long term use at 110% of the nominal loading in order to allow for manufacturing tolerances of the connected load and variations in the supply voltage. AND should also be able to survive loading to 20 amps for the time that it takes for the 13 amp fuse to operate.

    In practice though this is not the case.


    I would consider it to be very poor practice to connect a 3Kw immersion heater via a 13 amp plug and socket. A 2 Kw immersion heater should be fine, but I am not very keen on the idea due to risk of a 3Kw replacement being fitted.
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