Mains socket converters

[RizzoTheRat]

My house is somewat under socketed and I have a few places where I've fitted a 1-2 or 2-3 socket converter like this http://www.screwfix.com/p/clipsal-converta-socket-...

I've got a single socket where it would be quite convenient to have 3, so one of these.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-3-Gang-Socket-Converte...

I notice it's fused, does that imply the maximum load I should be putting on a converted socket is still 13A? The place I'm thinking of putting one would have a kettle and toaster running on it which I suspect is considerable more than 13A

[RizzoTheRat]

I bet I'm not the only person that wasn't aware of that, thanks. Guess my best bet is to fit a fused 2 or 3 way converter there rather than an unfused twin in case we ever overload it.

[RizzoTheRat]

Sheepshanks said:

The thread got a bit diverted but to answer that question specifically, if the kettle and toaster combined exceed 3000watts then don't put them on at the same time as you'll be over 13A.

Well the kettle alone is 3KW, so 12.5 amps, whcih was what got me thinking. I can make a cuppa in half the time I used to be able to with the old kettle but better not have any toast with it

There does seem to be some conflicting info out there, that data sheet linked does indeed say that particular twin socket is rated at 13A per socket outlet, but then again Iv'e not looked at the data sheets for other sockets so that doesn't mean they all are.

Sheepshanks said:

The daft thing is, unless it's changed recently, you can wire a double socket as a spur off a ring main using a single 2.5mm cable. So the circuit breaker on the ring is rated higher than the cable. It's just assumed that people won't fully load the sockets.

My circuit breaker is 32A, but it's a new consumer unit, the old one had 4 fuses for the whole house. I'm guessing the guy who fitted the new one didn't work out the entire house's wiring before fitting it.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Saturday 14th January 22:08

[RizzoTheRat]

So being the sad geek that I am I've just checked my toaster and it claims to be 1500-1800W, so kettle and toaster together are up to 4.8KW, ie 20A, which from comments above seems to be a test condition that a double socket should be able to cope with, but more than it should have on it.

I'd guess a large number of households run a toaster and kettle on the same sockets without a problem, but it's surprised me slightly how easy it is to overload a socket.

Dunno about the washing machine but the dishwasher claims to only be 1KW so the socket they're both plugged in to is a lighter load, but if I assume the washing machine is 1KW as well, then if turn on the food processor at the same time I'm pushing 32A on the ring main already

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Sunday 15th January 11:10