Total load capacity of twin 13 amp socket ?

AJJewsbury:

I understood that twin 13 amp sockets are designed for a total load of 20 amps, and that the approval test is done with 14 amps one one side and 6 amps on the other side.


However recent posts on these fora and elsewhere have stated or implied that the maximum permitted load is only 13 amps in total.


So which is it ?

i don't see why both can't be true - it's not unusual for tests to be somewhat in excess of nominal rating in order to allow a decent margin of error/safety. IIRC lifting gear has to pass a test of at least 2x its stated capacity.


   - Andy.

Just as a socket-outlet has a temperature rise test, so does the plug


In the test for a double socket-outlet, one of the plugs is not sufficiently loaded to achieve what could (in a fully loaded plug) be 37 K temperature rise at the plug pins - but the other is.


Quite simply, reliance on the product standard alone, in its present form, can't demonstrate that the double socket-outlet is suitable for 2 no. plugs each pulling 13 A.

AJJewsbury:

I understood that twin 13 amp sockets are designed for a total load of 20 amps, and that the approval test is done with 14 amps one one side and 6 amps on the other side.


However recent posts on these fora and elsewhere have stated or implied that the maximum permitted load is only 13 amps in total.


So which is it ?

i don't see why both can't be true - it's not unusual for tests to be somewhat in excess of nominal rating in order to allow a decent margin of error/safety. IIRC lifting gear has to pass a test of at least 2x its stated capacity.


   - Andy.

Just as a socket-outlet has a temperature rise test, so does the plug


In the test for a double socket-outlet, one of the plugs is not sufficiently loaded to achieve what could (in a fully loaded plug) be 37 K temperature rise at the plug pins - but the other is.


Quite simply, reliance on the product standard alone, in its present form, can't demonstrate that the double socket-outlet is suitable for 2 no. plugs each pulling 13 A.