Can 2.5mm flex ever be wired to a socket?

[Discharged]

As per the title, really. When I say socket, I don't mean on a ring, I mean on the end of a flying lead.

 

[Discharged]

Tell me...

 

[malcolmsanford]

They are loads that can be applied to that piece of equipment, not what have to be applied, similar to the 100 amp switch in a CU, that is it's rated operating characteristics before failure.

 

[Discharged]

This is all becoming much clearer to me so, so many thanks for the info. One thermostatic controller I know of has a 10A relay and the other a 16A relay... it now strikes me that the only reason the 40A relay is being used in the former is to boost its utility. In the latter, the 16A, it surely is not needed for a 3kw fire?

The way I come to this conclusion is by 3000w/240v= 12.5A - well within the 16A's capacity. Is this correct reasoning/maths?

What concerns me is that there is a controller out there with a 40A relay added, using 2.5mm cable, but with a 13A plug. How can that make sense? Should the advice be to not exceed 13A - not least because of the size of the plug's fuse?

 

[malcolmsanford]

How can you exceed a 13amp protection for a BS 1363 plug? You can;t 13amp is the maximum size fuse for that appliance.

The relay is rated 40amp as it is a generic piece of equipment. That is it's optimum rating before failure.

 

[Discharged]

So it's silly having a 40A relay in there in the first place?

 

[malcolmsanford]

no............................... how much do you think a component company will charge if they have to make bespoke components? Your 16 amp only relay will cost 10's of pound instead of a generic 40amp one that will do anything upto 40 amps and cost a tenner.

They will make 2 or 3 relays of differing sizes and use them accordingly. They most like make the 10amp for smaller loads as the resources will be smaller and it is more cost effective. anything over 10 amps upto 40amp another type.

 

[Discharged]

So the the 40A is just there for convenience? Why would the unit be carrying 2.5mm cabling? Is that really necessary in the instance when you can't exceed 13A anyway?

 

[Discharged]

Hey, why don't I just ditch the 2.5mm cabling - it's not going to be asked to carry more than 13A.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Not sure what this unit is, but any unit that is designed to have a BS 1363 plug on it, should not/will not have 2.5mm flex feeding it.

Unless the appliance is designed to be hard wired into a a suitable connection unit or it's been DIY'ed

 

[Discharged]

Malcolm, I think you've really hit the nail on the head. I don't think the one I bought was DIY - it's far more likely that it was designed to be hard-wired in somewhere; why otherwise put that big relay in? I understand what you're saying about the component manufacturer, however.

Many thanks, this has been a real help.