Collective thoughts about issue… Pub kitchen

[littlespark]

Been asked to look at local pub kitchen as a circuit was tripping.

The circuit appears to be a repurposed cooker circuit, fed in 6mm t&e to two MK double sockets. Second socket is fed in 2.5 from the first.
The load is 2x twin fryers… at 2.6kW per unit… so 4 units, but only 3 are ever used as the last one is positioned under a shelf.
The RCBO is only a 20A…. But I don’t know if that’s a case of “all that was in the van at the time” or a purposeful decision considering the load. Ie keeping the load limited to protect the sockets themselves.

I think it would be ok to uprate to a 32A…. And change that little bit of 2.5 to 4.0mm
The MK sockets are the older type, so not the newer less quality ones.

 

[mainline]

Ideally they should be on their own circuits and not terminated into plug tops.

Is it instant trip or thermal.

 

[westward10]

In kitchens they are normally on one gang sockets.

 

[westward10]

Ideally they should be on their own circuits and not terminated into plug tops.

Is it instant trip or thermal.

They normally come with moulded 13A plugs.

 

[mainline]

In kitchens they are normally on one gang sockets.

I did say Ideally as they are over 2kw.

 

[littlespark]

They normally come with moulded 13A plugs.

yes.. theyve got moulded plugs on them.

Ideally, everything would be on its own circuit, but as pub kitchen, its grown over the years... adding more and more equipment into a room as menu choices increase.


We are allowed to run a 32A radial circuit in 4mm instead of a 2.5 rfc..... but that doesnt take into account what is being plugged in.



I got the usual "but its worked fine for over a year"..... and "when it trips, we just plug into the other sockets..."

The other sockets.... which are running a couple of freezers, a pizza oven, eye level grill, kettle, microwave....



In the meantime, ive told them to only plug in 2, and use 1 in each double socket.....

 

[sheppertonspark]

I would definitely change to 16 A Commando sockets with Isolators. Fixed load so short circuit protection only required. Swap the RCBO for a 32 Amp and make sure it's a "Type A" tripping characteristic. Not surprised it keeps tripping. I would put an a clip on ammeter on the cable, I think you might be surprised at the true current. PRC made. Sorry to state the obvious, and I apologise if I offend. You have checked the earth leakage ?

 

[DefyG]

"but its worked fine for over a year"

Really?

"when it trips, we just plug into the other sockets..."

That's hardly working 'fine'!

As we don't live in an 'ideal world' upgrading the RCBO, post#1, (if in short term) is best that you can do for now.

 

[littlespark]

Really?

That's hardly working 'fine'!

As we don't live in an 'ideal world' upgrading the RCBO, post#1, (if in short term) is best that you can do for now.

I know I know.

The manager of the pub now used to be just the cook/ barmaid, but when it changed hands, she was given the top job.
Her only qualification is dog grooming.

“Working fine” to her is lasting a shift and only resetting it twice.

Interesting you suggest uprating the breaker when no one else has.
You don’t think it might knacker the sockets?
Could be 22 amps at times running through the one double socket.


It might work if they reorganise the kitchen…. Moving one fryer onto the general sockets….swappinh it with a microwave or something that takes less power.
Or even getting a new circuit put in…

Ideal world, they need a 3ph supply, and a much bigger kitchen setup.

 

[grumpyjohn01]

I had an almost identical scenario about 8 years ago in my local, I upped the RCBO to 32a and put in single metalclad sockets (cant remember exactly how I wired it tbh could have been 4mm radial style or might even have been lollipop ring.) Has been fine ever since, no tripping or melty sockets to my knowledge and knowing the management as I do, they would have told me!