13amp multi plug extension?

[Steve198t]

I want to purchase a 10 socket multiplug extension that's 13amps. Does that mean I cant go above 13amps on the whole 10 sockets? I'm thinking even if i put 4 3amp plugs on it I can't use the other 6 so seems pointless having 10.

Tia

 

[Steve198t]

When coiled into the reel you have a very large inductor and are trying to pump a lot of current through it. It heats up enough to melt the insulation on the cable. Been there, done that...

I would never buy a wind up cable reel since then (about 40 years ago) - although I understand its limitations the rest of the family don’t.

It's not a wind up cable, 4m in length which is about the length I need, going by what's been said I think I'll go for it and just keep an eye on the temp for overheating.

 

[Steve198t]

Steve with respect, you asked, you were given the correct advice from many sources, yet you have chosen to ignore, begs the question why bother? you obviously made your mind up what you were going to do before you asked.

And I'm going by what everyone has said. 1 said I'll be way under the 13amp, another said I'm not using anything high powered like a heater. Some said extension leads are more like 10amp and not 13 but will still be under that. It's not on a reel so won't be a factor to worry about. Did I get the wrong impression, is what I want to do a big no?

 

[DPG]

As above, you shouldn't have a problem running several low powered items from your multiway extension.

 

[SJD]

I don't see a problem, for the low-power items you described. Lucien's post is probably the most informative (it always is!). Don't understand why Pete999 seems to have a different idea.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

When coiled into the reel you have a very large inductor
Source URL: 13amp multi plug extension? - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/13amp-multi-plug-extension.180741/

As far as the current flowing in the circuit is concerned, the inductance of a mains cable on a reel is near zero. Since the current in the line and neutral conductors is equal, but flowing in opposite directions around the reel, each amp-turn of magnetomotive force produced by the line conductor is cancelled out by one from the neutral, making the cable non-inductive overall*.

The heat dissipated by a cable is purely a result of its resistance*, and is exactly the same whether it is wound on a reel or lying along the floor in a straight line. The coiled cable will stand only a fraction of the current without overheating because of the very much higher thermal resistance from the inner turns to the atmosphere. If the cable is wound tightly enough to prevent any useful convection cooling to ambient between turns, the dissipative surface of a coil three layers deep may be only 1/3 of that when unrolled, with the middle layer experiencing more than double the temperature rise.

*These do not necessarily hold good at radio frequencies.