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Immersion Heater & 13 Amp socket.

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.

Parents

0 Potential over 5 years ago

MHRestorations:

With regard to the testing requirements, 15,000 make break cycles may be all very well.... but was the accessory allowed to roast for 10+ years in an airing cupboard with the poorly insulated jacket described above...at full load because the thermostat was shorted and had been for a while, between each one of those cycles?

IMO, manufacturers back in the old days used to use worst case scenarios such as the above, to design to.

Now it's how can we get past this specific test in the cheapest manner?

Even MK themselves have fallen victim

Of course the big difference between electric fire use and the immersion heater is the ambient temperature of the plug and socket.

Personally I've seen (in my youth) far too many round pin plugs burnt out because they were used with a continuous heavy load.

The fuse used to be the Achilles heel in the early 13 amp square pin plugs.

They'd overheat quite badly in some cases, probably because the clips did not hold the fuse well but also because they were confined in a lot of plastic and couldn't dissipate the heat fast enough... and made worse in an airing cupboard.

I totally agree about modern manufacturing of electrical fittings being extremely poor and cable so stiff.

Quality has completely fallen through the floor.

I hate working with it now.

How anyone can do a decent job these days rather surprises me.
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0 Potential over 5 years ago

MHRestorations:

With regard to the testing requirements, 15,000 make break cycles may be all very well.... but was the accessory allowed to roast for 10+ years in an airing cupboard with the poorly insulated jacket described above...at full load because the thermostat was shorted and had been for a while, between each one of those cycles?

IMO, manufacturers back in the old days used to use worst case scenarios such as the above, to design to.

Now it's how can we get past this specific test in the cheapest manner?

Even MK themselves have fallen victim

Of course the big difference between electric fire use and the immersion heater is the ambient temperature of the plug and socket.

Personally I've seen (in my youth) far too many round pin plugs burnt out because they were used with a continuous heavy load.

The fuse used to be the Achilles heel in the early 13 amp square pin plugs.

They'd overheat quite badly in some cases, probably because the clips did not hold the fuse well but also because they were confined in a lot of plastic and couldn't dissipate the heat fast enough... and made worse in an airing cupboard.

I totally agree about modern manufacturing of electrical fittings being extremely poor and cable so stiff.

Quality has completely fallen through the floor.

I hate working with it now.

How anyone can do a decent job these days rather surprises me.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Cancel

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Immersion Heater & 13 Amp socket.

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