Radio adverts about overloading sockets.

[Eddiesparks]

Has anyone else heard the new advert along the lines of 'don't plug in too much into an extension lead it will overload the electrical socket'

Surely the 13a fuse in extension lead's plug top is to stop this very occurence??

Ok, a 13a fuse doesn't break at 13a as we all know but surely the flex in BS/CE/whatever standard extension leads takes this into account?

The reason we sparks design circuits intelligently and the reason there are fuses in plug tops & FCUs etc is to allow for user error surely??

What do others think?

 

[Marvo]

should bring back the old 15A round pin sockets. you could squeeze loads of flexes in them, wedged in with the only plug you need.

The 15A round pin, real-mans sockets are standard here, usually on 20A radial circuits so the chances of acute overloading isn't high. Much better not having to faff around with fuses

There's lots of advantages to the round pin plugs, they don't hurt as much when you accidentally stand on one for starters.

**edit** incidentally the round pin sockets are generally considered to be 16A sockets as opposed to 125A mentioned above. Not sure why....

 

[Richard Burns]

I think when the original plugs were designed they did not apply a lot of technology to them, "hmm this does not get hot, must be OK with that load"
I seem to remember that there was some discussion about the 5A plugs and the powers that be saying well they can take 10A anyway, so presumably the 15A socket could actually take about 20A and so a rating of the now "standard" 16A makes more sense.

 

[Paul.M]

It's great that they are advertising this public safety notice. Most fires start due to portable heaters + other appliances overloading the extension, this needs to be advertised through until winter and get the message across.