Can i hardwire two 16amp aplliances into a hardwire point on a 6mm cable?

Ben&Jerry · Jan 24, 2024

Is this ok?

32amp breaker with a 6mm wire leading to fused cooker switch.

This then leads with 6mm cable to hardwire point.

Can i hardwire 2 x 16 amp appliances to this hardwire point.

This hardwire point is all i have for these these appliances. Should I use a double hardwire point or will a single be fine for both?

westward10 · Jan 24, 2024

What circuit protection does the manufacturer recommend?

Ben&Jerry · Jan 24, 2024

westward10 said:
What circuit protection does the manufacturer recommend?

This is all that the manufacturer gives...

westward10 · Jan 24, 2024

One up from the bottom, 16A.

Ben&Jerry · Jan 24, 2024

westward10 said:
One up from the bottom, 16A.

I'm confused, I did state both appliances are 16amps each, are you saying the 32amp breaking is fine?

Avo Mk8 · Jan 24, 2024

Ben&Jerry said:
I'm confused, I did state both appliances are 16amps each, are you saying the 32amp breaking is fine?

Meaning each appliance requires individual protection (Eg fuse) of 16A. Meaning the manufacturer says don't put them together on a 32A breaker

Ben&Jerry · Jan 24, 2024

Ahh ok, so the 6mm wire coming out of the wall. What are my options? can I put 2 x 16amp fused hardwire points/ something along these lines with your guidance?

suffolkspark · Jan 25, 2024

Ben&Jerry said:
Ahh ok, so the 6mm wire coming out of the wall. What are my options? can I put 2 x 16amp fused hardwire points/ something along these lines with your guidance?

No, you need to change the breaker to 16A.

OLDBOY · Jan 25, 2024

Each appliance will require a 16a fuse or mcb. With your stated arrangement this will not be easy to achieve. The options are you split the existing 6.0mm/32a supply through an enclosure with 2x 16a mcb's, and from there to two outlets.Or drop the existing 32a supply to a 16a mcb and use that for one, and run another 16a radial back to the db for the second.

Ben&Jerry · Jan 25, 2024

Thanks for the help. Gonna run a new wire

So just a quick one. Why do you need a 16amp breaker on a 6mm wire? If the appliance is rated at 16amp then is the reason for keeping the breaker at 16amp and not maxing at 32amp incase the appliance is faulty and drawns too much power?

Avo Mk8 · Jan 25, 2024

Ben&Jerry said:
Thanks for the help. Gonna run a new wire

So just a quick one. Why do you need a 16amp breaker on a 6mm wire? If the appliance is rated at 16amp then is the reason for keeping the breaker at 16amp and not maxing at 32amp incase the appliance is faulty and drawns too much power?

Yes, it's about what happens when there's a fault.
If the manufacturer of an appliance specifies overload protection for it (eg a 16A), then an electrician installing it is obliged to take heed of that recommendation.
The need for protection would likely come about because the designers did a risk assessment, and found a hazard could occur (within the appliance itself) if the fault current was high.

OLDBOY · Jan 25, 2024

The reality is this is a fixed load and so it would be perfectly safe without any overload protection and the existing 6.0mm supply cable would be adequately fault protected by the 32a device. But if manufacturer states a 16a device is required then that has to be taken into account.