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Current rating of twin 13 amp sockets ?

broadgage

Is there any reliable information as to the current rating of a twin 13 amp socket.

Sounds simple enough, but views seem to differ. I was taught (decades ago) that a twin 13 amp socket manufactured to the relevant standards was suitable for a total load of 20 amps. And I recall that approval testing was done with 14 amps on one outlet and 6 amps on the other.

More recently though I recall respected members of this, and other forums, stating that the maximum total load is 13 amps and not 20 amps. And yes I know that 13 amp twin sockets  are marked “13 amps” on the back. But does this mean “maximum total load of 13 amps” or does it mean “intended to accept 13 amp plugs”

Any reliable views on this, preferably with a source.

And related to the above, I have heard that MK twin 13 amp sockets go beyond the minimum standards and are designed for a total loading of 26 amps. Can anyone confirm or deny this. And yes I have asked MK and have received several different answers !

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    The ring final highlights just how much slack there is in the book ratings, and how far from reality typical diversity assumptions can be. Because in practice it works very well, despite a  body of theoretical cases when it should not. 

    At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, if you compare the wiring practices with less well regulated 230V countries (Brazil, India, China perhaps parts of the former eastern bloc ) where 2.5mm or even 1.5mm singles are used on  breakers certainly up to 32A with nary a problem, in the UK we are incredibly cautious. Of course I take the point that if the wiring is all on the surface and joined with hedgehog splices, then for chunks to be changed when it fails and goes bang  is less of a hassle.

    If we really wanted to change our plugs and sockets, then something that takes the Europlug would be good, and we could then remove reverse polarity from out list of faults. And something more waterproof for bathrooms and outdoors. 

    (of course the lower current inwardly sprung pins europlug does fit the 13A socket but it is not really intended to )

    Mike

     

     

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  • 0

    The ring final highlights just how much slack there is in the book ratings, and how far from reality typical diversity assumptions can be. Because in practice it works very well, despite a  body of theoretical cases when it should not. 

    At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, if you compare the wiring practices with less well regulated 230V countries (Brazil, India, China perhaps parts of the former eastern bloc ) where 2.5mm or even 1.5mm singles are used on  breakers certainly up to 32A with nary a problem, in the UK we are incredibly cautious. Of course I take the point that if the wiring is all on the surface and joined with hedgehog splices, then for chunks to be changed when it fails and goes bang  is less of a hassle.

    If we really wanted to change our plugs and sockets, then something that takes the Europlug would be good, and we could then remove reverse polarity from out list of faults. And something more waterproof for bathrooms and outdoors. 

    (of course the lower current inwardly sprung pins europlug does fit the 13A socket but it is not really intended to )

    Mike

     

     

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