overloading plug sockets?

Go count up the values on the fuses.

If you have more than 1 item with a 13A fuse then you're overloading the sockets.

I wouldn't worry too much if you have a surge protector or RCD, but it shouldn't happen in an ideal world.
 
EVH said:
Go count up the values on the fuses.

If you have more than 1 item with a 13A fuse then you're overloading the sockets.

I wouldn't worry too much if you have a surge protector or RCD, but it shouldn't happen in an ideal world.
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I dont understand what you mean. If you have more than one appliance in a socket with a 13a fuse you are over loading the socket?..
 
On a sidenote, if you've got any of those belkin surge protected adapters, the warranty is void if you daisy chain them.
 
DRZ said:
:D Lol :D

I have a frankly absurd amount of stuff running on my ring here. NAD Power amp, preamp, 3 PCs, Laptop, Compaq Proliant server, 14 disk SCSI array, router, 2 switches (1 of them is a Cisco Catalyst 2950) as well as lamps, phone chargers, 3 TFT Monitors etc.

Never blown a fuse :p
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Do you work from home or just feel some other need for a large SCSI array , Server, and a Cisco switch? :)
 
DRZ said:
:D Lol :D

I have a frankly absurd amount of stuff running on my ring here. NAD Power amp, preamp, 3 PCs, Laptop, Compaq Proliant server, 14 disk SCSI array, router, 2 switches (1 of them is a Cisco Catalyst 2950) as well as lamps, phone chargers, 3 TFT Monitors etc.

Never blown a fuse :p
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I have 2 Cisco Catalyst 2950s and actually your setup isn't all the different from mine, although my SCSI array is smaller :(

Burnsy
 
EVH said:
Go count up the values on the fuses.

If you have more than 1 item with a 13A fuse then you're overloading the sockets.
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That's not a very good way of finding out the load of a device. Anything that draws anything over 5A will require a 13A fuse, even if it only draws 5A exactly.

Burnsy
 
I've got 15 things connected to a single plug socket in my house by my pc (a single socket, then a 12 way, then a 4 way) not had any problems.
I'm using one of those surge proof ones though, it's a lot of kit to ruin if the worst should happen.
 
LordSplodge said:
Do you work from home or just feel some other need for a large SCSI array , Server, and a Cisco switch? :)
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I am a geek :D Especially when it comes to networking. I have loads more stuff that I dont have in my setup at the moment. By the end of the summer I will have migrated to Fibre, for instance :)
 
if anyones concerned about overloading plug sockets, plug-in power usage meters are available which show voltage / current draw / wattage up to 3.7kW.

they're about £29

google:
plug socket watt meter

first non-sponsored result :)

<edit>

Oooh, found them for £20 :)
i don't think this is a competitor:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/buy-KILL-A-WATT.htm
 
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what happens if you don't overload any of your plug sockets but you've just got so much in your room that you've got all your sockets nearly at capacity? Like - 12A would be fine for one socket, but surely 12A from all of the 8 sockets in my room would be too much?

Ideally I imagine the fuse in the fusebox in the cupboard would go - but what would happen if it didn't? some cable in the wall catches fire and your whole place is screwed or what?

I also realise that it'd be pretty damn hard to have enough stuff to use that much power!

How much would it use if someone's daughter had a sleep over and they all brought straightners and hairdryers round? say 3 of each?
 
Rebelius said:
what happens if you don't overload any of your plug sockets but you've just got so much in your room that you've got all your sockets nearly at capacity? Like - 12A would be fine for one socket, but surely 12A from all of the 8 sockets in my room would be too much?

Ideally I imagine the fuse in the fusebox in the cupboard would go - but what would happen if it didn't? some cable in the wall catches fire and your whole place is screwed or what?

I also realise that it'd be pretty damn hard to have enough stuff to use that much power!

How much would it use if someone's daughter had a sleep over and they all brought straightners and hairdryers round? say 3 of each?
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as long as nothing starts melting you'll be fine :)

if the current for that section of the house gets too high (which might happen in the situation you describe) then the circuit breaker will trip and the lights will go out :D
 
Thats nothing I've had from two sockets:

Fish tank heater
Fish tank light
3 tube lights
2 desk lamps
1 telephone
3 monitors
2 print servers
2 network hubs
2 routers
3 computers + 1 storage tower
1 laptop
magnetic globe hover thing

one of the multi plugs caught fire just so you all know :P
 
allllec said:
If I wanted to learn about electrics like this sort of thing what would be best place to start. some kind of city & guilds or what? Not looking to start a career in it or anything just yet but a simple part time course or something to get started?
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Which book of power and lighting is a good start for a DIYer I'm told, and also electricial sections of DIY forums can be usful http://www.diynot.com/forums is a good one

Oh and if your electrics are in a bit of a mess, if you get an electrician out to do a periodic inspection report for you, to see what exactly is up with it, but get his opinion on whether it is worthwhile or not, a quick visual can tell if PIR and remedials is a sensible opinion, or if its just so bad that it needs ripping out and starting again!

Don't epxect your spur off a spur to be looked on favourably though! (ditto for the way you've run the cable insto the existing point)
 
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