The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 36 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 6413 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Appliance Ratings and 13A plug tops

statter
Hello

I looked last year for portable heating and not surprisingly there was little above 2.5kW rating.  All the old 3kW stuff has long gone.

I was surprised however to find a wide range of steam irons rated at 3000W and even 3100W.  (that's almost 13.5A at 230V).  I realise of course that irons are likely to be much more intermittent than heating and that 13.5A is very unlikely to blow a 13A fuse but it cant be good practice to overload plug/ socket like this.  A decent ironing session can still be hours ……   OFC at 240v its under 13A but 230v has been the standard for ages now.   In my experience many socket/ plug combinations are marginal approaching their rating so deliberate overloading will only make matters worse over time.  I would have thought that these appliances wouldn't qualify for CE marking and couldn't be sold legally?  Does anyone know if there is a BS or EN for small appliances?


Thanks


Peter
Parents
  • 0
    I am surprised that idea that electricity makes things very efficient is coming out here. Overall the efficiency is somewhere in the 30-40% bracket if the WHOLE cycle is taken into account. There is a curious idea coming from some that electricity is 100% efficient, free and unlimited. Even if your use is a heater, consider the power station, grid, transformers, LV network, and even the light it may give out. the noise from the fan etc. You may say that it is solar, but the panels are still 30% or less, the inverter maybe 95% or less depending on the power, manufacturing the panels, installing and transport from China etc. Are they still free electricity? No.


    Whatever we do there is a large energy cost in getting sunlight (fossil fuels, solar, wind) to an energy form we can use. Sensible economics says all these should be considered and costed. Have you noticed the way in which this is avoided by everyone from Government to consumer?


    The only 13A plugs which I have seen which carry 13A or more without difficulty was the MK safetyplug, which was eliminated years ago because it cost more than other makes. It had big terminals, silver plated fuse holder and very strong palstic moldings. Time passes...
Reply
  • 0
    I am surprised that idea that electricity makes things very efficient is coming out here. Overall the efficiency is somewhere in the 30-40% bracket if the WHOLE cycle is taken into account. There is a curious idea coming from some that electricity is 100% efficient, free and unlimited. Even if your use is a heater, consider the power station, grid, transformers, LV network, and even the light it may give out. the noise from the fan etc. You may say that it is solar, but the panels are still 30% or less, the inverter maybe 95% or less depending on the power, manufacturing the panels, installing and transport from China etc. Are they still free electricity? No.


    Whatever we do there is a large energy cost in getting sunlight (fossil fuels, solar, wind) to an energy form we can use. Sensible economics says all these should be considered and costed. Have you noticed the way in which this is avoided by everyone from Government to consumer?


    The only 13A plugs which I have seen which carry 13A or more without difficulty was the MK safetyplug, which was eliminated years ago because it cost more than other makes. It had big terminals, silver plated fuse holder and very strong palstic moldings. Time passes...
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines