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Historical question WRT 15 amp sockets.

broadgage

ISTR that in an old edition of the then IEE regs, that two socket outlets each of the unfused 15 amp type could be connected to a 25 amp fuse.

Have found a number wired thus in a large old house. Possibly pre-war, wired in MICC and still in good condition. 

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    What happens when I plug in a small load appliance wired in 0.5 or 0.75mm2 flex using a 15 Amp plug, when the appliance become faulty? 

     

    Well it goes ‘bang’ in the best comedy tradition. Racing a bit of 25 A or 30A fuse wire against a 0.5mm2 flex, the fuse will always win, but internal heating means the cable may well be put beyond re-use. (true even for 1mm2 wire under some conditions)  But the defective appliance is probably going in the bin anyway, so the cable can go with it.

    A bigger issue is overload - a short circuit to earth part way along a heating element may result in a lot more current than intended, but not enough to bother the fuse.

    RCDs help that situation of course.

    Mike.

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  • 0

    What happens when I plug in a small load appliance wired in 0.5 or 0.75mm2 flex using a 15 Amp plug, when the appliance become faulty? 

     

    Well it goes ‘bang’ in the best comedy tradition. Racing a bit of 25 A or 30A fuse wire against a 0.5mm2 flex, the fuse will always win, but internal heating means the cable may well be put beyond re-use. (true even for 1mm2 wire under some conditions)  But the defective appliance is probably going in the bin anyway, so the cable can go with it.

    A bigger issue is overload - a short circuit to earth part way along a heating element may result in a lot more current than intended, but not enough to bother the fuse.

    RCDs help that situation of course.

    Mike.

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