BS 1363 13A Socket Continuous Max Load

Sparkingchip: 
 

Back in the days when 15 amp sockets were installed in homes, what domestic appliances were there that actually drew a full 15 amps?

A 3 bar electric fire, an early type of washing machine, a table top electric cooker, and as has already been suggested a wash boiler.

And back in the day, there still existed 200 volt and 210 volt supplies, which increased the current for a given kw loading, presuming that the appliance was DESIGNED for the lower voltage.

The popular “baby Belling” cookers had two rings and an oven, with an interlock to prevent simultaneous use of the oven and the larger ring.  Some people defeated this and thereby increased the loading to about 20 amps.

Some installations had a changeover switch to permit use of cooker OR washing machine, but not both.

My understanding is that back in the 1940’s when the design of 30 amp socket ring circuits was developed to allow more sockets with less cable than 15 amp radials, is that the circui design would allow two 3 kW loads to be connected, which would most like be an electric fire or electric heater in a home where only the primary living room was heated by an open fire burning coal.

People did not have washing machines and the other appliances found in modern homes, the supplementary heating from an electric fire or electric heater would rarely be used, people did not use bedrooms as living space and went to bed with a quilt and a hot water bottle.

Modern portable electrical appliances rarely draw more than 10 amps and the only time we see burnt out sockets is because of misuse or a high resistance due to corrosion. 

I am not seeing a particular issue with overheated sockets, because none of the sockets run at “full capacity“. 

However I didn’t actual realise that manufacturers had decided  they could value engineer their products based on an assumption they would never be fully loaded, which in truth they probably never will be unless people use multi-way adapters.

We really should be coding a lack of sockets in homes where multi-way adapters and extension leads are in use when preparing an EICR, because of the increased risks.

The popular “baby Belling” cookers had two rings and an oven, with an interlock to prevent simultaneous use of the oven and the larger ring.  Some people defeated this and thereby increased the loading to about 20 amps.

You could buy them without the interlock.  I had one that I wired into the cooker point.  The maximum draw with everything on was 18A.