The reason I ask is because you can buy 8/10 plug extension leads. From what I understand, most normal wall sockets are 13 amp. I've taken a quick look at my plugs and the majority seem to say 3 amp for things like printer, xbox, speakers/subwoofer, alarm clock, monitor. If you put all these on one extension then it totals over 13 amp.
However, I have been told that these items rarely use their full 3 amp and that is only there as a guide to show at what level the fuse will blow. In reality they will probably only use half the ampage written on the plug (so a plug that says 3 amp will only use 1.5 amp). If this is the case then I can understand 8/10 plug extensions as you could fill an 8 plug extension up with supposed 3 amp items and it would only really be (8x1.5) 12 amp in total.
I'd appreciate clarification of this, I'm the least electrically-minded person you could come across so simple language please!
2007-03-09 00:19:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
You have to think Watts. Watts are the unit of power consumption which is Amps x Volts. Your 13A outlet is capable of supplying equipment up to a consumption of 250x13= 3250 Watts. So, for example a 100W light bulb will use 0.4Amps. So potentially you could have 32X100W=3200W (<3250W, consuming 12.8A) light bulbs hanging off a socket off of the various extensions. Plug fuse ratings are set to protect the cable between the socket and the appliance and are not an indication of how much electricity an appliance consumes.
2007-03-09 00:32:09 · answer #1 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah you're on the right trachks. The 3 amp fuse, for example is used when you want the maximum that the appliance will take to be 3 amps... to stop it exploding, causing fire etc, if there is a malfunction the fuse will melt and the circuit will break. Because a 3 amp fuse is the lowest, your appliance may only be using far less ampage than that - for example a 40W bulb in a lamp powered at 240volt wall socket will be drawing 0.16 amps!
To be on the safe side you should really only add up the maximums tho.. like in your first paragraph.
2007-03-09 00:23:57 · answer #2 · answered by Robin the Electrocuted 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really doesn't matter how many appliances you plug into an electrical outlet. What is important is that you do not exceed the total permitted loading on any part of it. If you buy a 10 way socket block, and plug 10 Kettles into it, things are going to go badly wrong. but for something like computer peripherals you would have no problem.
No doubt someone will give you the technical aspects of this but that's as simple as i can make it for you.
2007-03-09 00:30:11 · answer #3 · answered by Max 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i can see some logic in what you saying, but you can still over load the multi socket, by continually drawing a total ampage close to the wall socket's limit.
Better to ask an electrician to fit another wall socket into ring, or fit an extra spur from your consumer unit.
2007-03-09 00:23:15 · answer #4 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a safety measure used to prevent overheating, burning, blowing the fuse or generally running the risk of getting a brown-out (your electricity in your home in the main lead shuts down due to overusage)
2007-03-09 00:22:49 · answer #5 · answered by inesp01 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ac became into rated for 11 amps,yet what else is plugged into the comparable circuit????11 additionally sounds low for a window ac unit,its reported that substantial home equipment are on their very own circuit,dishwasher,refrigerator and so forth on seperate circuits.
2016-12-18 18:38:01 · answer #6 · answered by bumbray 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋