Reply to: What is the maximum load that I could put through a double socket?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

No thanks. Tried that and didn't like it

You can't "try" electrocution. Electrocuted=dead. You can try getting a shock.

[Paddy]

FWIW I know what I am talking about.

A ring main (that is a circuit that is looped) using 2.5mm twin an earth can carry up to 32 amps (depending on the route of the cable, distance of the run of cable, etc etc)

Anything that comes from a ring main, be it an extension lead or 4 gang, or chain of 4 gangs is considered to be a radial circuit. .

HTH

Everyone knows that ring-mains are for door bells.

[Spacecadet]

If the extension cable doesn't get warm it should be ok. Don't do what I did and run a fan heater via a coiled extension cable

IANAE

Coiled extensions usually come with 2 max ratings, 1 for use when coiled, another for uncoiled.

[suityou01]

FWIW I know what I am talking about.

A ring main (that is a circuit that is looped) using 2.5mm twin an earth can carry up to 32 amps (depending on the route of the cable, distance of the run of cable, etc etc)

Anything that comes from a ring main, be it an extension lead or 4 gang, or chain of 4 gangs is considered to be a radial circuit. A radial circuit in normal twin an earth "can" carry up to 16 amps (again depending on the route of the cable, especially the cable's ability to disperse heat - which is why Zippy's cable when coiled caused problems. A radial circuit which is created from flexible cable should always carry a maximum of 13 amps.

Each 4 gang is fused at 13 amps, so multiple 4 gangs technically will never cause overload...
However mutliple 4 gangs creakily chained together via multiple "cube adaptors" may cause arcing which is obviously not desirable.

If your home office is in need of a lot of amps then consider an electrician putting in a consumer unit for your office only. Then you can load up with impunity, also safe in the knowledge that your new installation will be protected by R.C.D. which is a good thing. Failing that, you are too big an enterprise for a home installation and should get a private office - something which I think most on here are not likely to be.

HTH

[MarillionFan]

Something to do with putting a load through a socket without blowing your girlfriend's ring...........I think.

I just assumed that Minestrone had too many heaters and too many lights for his cannabis factory on one socket.

But each to their own I suppose.

[EternalOptimist]

Something to do with putting a load through a socket without blowing your girlfriend's ring...........I think.

phew! thank God

sometimes I fear that I am missing the point.

entirely

[shaunbhoy]

sorry, what were we talking about again ?

Something to do with putting a load through a socket without blowing your girlfriend's ring...........I think.

[Mich the Tester]

sorry, what were all that lot talking about again ?

ftfy

[EternalOptimist]

my first girlfriend liked to double socket. We could get a heavy load through the ring main, lots of juice, but it was only a matter of time before a fuse blew


sorry, what were we talking about again ?

[shaunbhoy]

If the extension cable doesn't get warm it should be ok. Don't do what I did and run a fan heater via a coiled extension cable

IANAE

If you run something heavy duty via a coiled extension cable, then the coil ends up acting like the filament in a light bulb and heating up, as you found. It is generally a good rule of thumb to completely unravel any extension cables before switch-on in order that the wire can at least stay a bit cooler.

HTH but IANAE either.

[minestrone]

Didn't you say you had an engineering degree?

Aye, proper engineering, heavy weights, greasy overalls and hot mugs of milky tea. Never understood the electrical stuff, one term in first year was enough.

Just looked at the appliances of one of the 6.

20w, 12w, 15W, 30W, 30W & 240v* 170ma

Bit upset my 3 grand behemoth of a drum kit is only 12w.

The other 6 are 1 pc, 2 monitors of 90w each and 2 lamps.

Looks like I was worring too much about nothing, thanks for the help.

[Mich the Tester]

What is the maximum load that I could put through a socket?

About two teaspoonsful, three if you eat a lot of oysters.

[Zippy]

I've managed three screwdrivers, an awl, and two knitting needles simultaneously.

You are Thora Hird and I claim my five pounds

[Zippy]

Now go electrocute yourself

No thanks. Tried that and didn't like it

[centurian]

If the extension cable doesn't get warm it should be ok. Don't do what I did and run a fan heater via a coiled extension cable

Coiled extension cables usually can't take 13 amps because

a) The flex is usually (not always) thinner, so isn't rated at 13 amps
b) The coiling creates impedence / inductance (can't remember which), so reduces it's flow capability.

If you're using "plugboards" with a thick-ish cable, you should be able to get the full 13amps out of a single socket, even if you string a dozen of them together.

Out of a double socket, you should be able to get at least 20 amps (10 out of each) which is what ring mains are normally rated for.

Now go electrocute yourself