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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
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    davezawadi:

    Interesting that both pins got very hot (well probably over 70C). I wonder what the pins are made of, perhaps high resistance material. Brass is expensive now! I don't see much sign of arcing on the pins, they usually get discoloured and pitted if this happens. Did the socket survive the onslaught?




    There is discolouration which is consistent with arcing just where the chamfers on the live pins begin. It can be seen on the N pin in the photo.


    My thinking is that the load would heat the pins to let's say 50 deg C and a little arcing would take it over the safe level. So careless insertion or may be tripping over the flex may have been enough. Alternatively, with the contacts gripping poorly, might there have been a resistive element to the overheating?


    I don't know which socket was in use at the time, but none shows any sign of damage. They are all good old MK.


    P.S. no I am not going to fit AFDDs. ?

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  • 0

    davezawadi:

    Interesting that both pins got very hot (well probably over 70C). I wonder what the pins are made of, perhaps high resistance material. Brass is expensive now! I don't see much sign of arcing on the pins, they usually get discoloured and pitted if this happens. Did the socket survive the onslaught?




    There is discolouration which is consistent with arcing just where the chamfers on the live pins begin. It can be seen on the N pin in the photo.


    My thinking is that the load would heat the pins to let's say 50 deg C and a little arcing would take it over the safe level. So careless insertion or may be tripping over the flex may have been enough. Alternatively, with the contacts gripping poorly, might there have been a resistive element to the overheating?


    I don't know which socket was in use at the time, but none shows any sign of damage. They are all good old MK.


    P.S. no I am not going to fit AFDDs. ?

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