Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder9.news.weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail From: liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design Subject: Re: British (european?) kitchen counter electric outlets Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2024 17:01:04 +0100 Organization: Poppy Records Lines: 57 Message-ID: <1quw8vi.v1gyns1s8k72sN%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> References: <1quvk5k.dbn40q1ggrom8N%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> X-Trace: individual.net nHj7IMJNidviXjZCMRMpVg0nJ3/lPhn1sxQNP6uTVCLkBV2kAm X-Orig-Path: liz Cancel-Lock: sha1:vQUafbZtm1olkk+QQCkR7VcZUJU= sha256:9KriFbU83vyWCubHrSQaCzZHTZA3QfLJxtziGGlnyak= User-Agent: MacSOUP/2.4.6 Bytes: 3431 Don Y wrote: > On 6/8/2024 11:57 PM, Liz Tuddenham wrote: [...] > > There are generally > > fewer electrical gadgets in UK kitchens and those which are used less > > often are stored away in cupboards and only brought out and plugged in > > when needed, so a smaller number of outlets is usually sufficient. > > Any "major appliances" (stove/oven, dishwasher, refrigerator) tend to > have dedicated outlets (and dedicated circuits). I suspect a > microwave oven would be the most common appliance that is constantly > powered in a US kitchen. Electric cookers are invariably wired-in permanently with their own dedicated spur from the fuse box or consumer unit. This is because UK cookers have tended to be standalone units with (for intance) four top rings, a grill and an oven. With everything switched on (such as preparing Christmas dinner) they can draw over 12 kW. They must have a two-pole isolating switch located close to, but not directly above, them. Often these isolators also have a built-in single socket which is handy for an electric kettle or similar appliance that is used frequently and needs to be kept near the cooker. In the last 20 years there has been a trend towards separate units in different locations for the various function of a cooker, so some of the lower-power units can be fed from a socket instead of being permanently wired-in. Refrigerators and microwave ovens will work off a 13 amp socket, so they are rarely 'plumbed-in' ...but the socket may be located on the wall directly behind them and inacessible unless the appliance is moved out first. Washing machines and dishwashers are plumbed-in for water and waste but they are usually restricted to 3 kW and will therefore work off a 13 amp socket. The arrangement of water hoses, taps and fittings close to a 240v power point is an uncomfortable one, but doesn't seem to cause much trouble in practice. I heard from a domestic appliance manufacturer with international sales that the models for America, the UK and Europe differ in the design of the casing. The American models are designed to make more noise, as this gives the impression they are powerful. The UK models are quieter to give the impression of efficiency and the European models are super-quiet to give the impression of environmental friendliness. I don't know how true that is, but it is an interesting view on national psychology. -- ~ Liz Tuddenham ~ (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply) www.poppyrecords.co.uk