European Outlet Amp Ratings
- Thread starter fifty60
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kwired
Electron manager
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- NE Nebraska
I do believe they are based on an IEC standard. Some of the ratings you see on IEC equipment that is used in the US may give you clues as to what may be popular sizes used there. I know 16 amps is one of those sizes.
Kind of funny how they have standardized most everything in European countries on the metric system with base of 10 for most measurements, then these particular items are seldom standardized in units divisible by 10
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
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Try this link. It depends on the configuration you are using.
http://www.internationalconfig.com/default.asp
mgookin
Senior Member
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- Fort Myers, FL
The UK guys will likely chime in soon.
We've learned a lot about what you build, except what it is. Do you mind telling us, or is that best kept non-public?
In UK it's 13A. That's it.
I don't know about other European countries.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
I assume you mean the most common receptacle you will find in the average household, or other general purpose use application is 13 amps, similar to the 15 amp, and sometimes 20 amp, 125 volt receptacle in the US, but there are other ratings for higher amperage uses, without the complexities of running into multiple voltage ratings at least in the average home or small business - No 120, 120/240, 240, to deal with just 13 amps 240 volts for most applications. Then we also have to deal with grounding and non grounding types - though mostly for dealing with existing older installations, new installations are generally supposed to be grounding types.
It's the only receptacle. There are other outlets for things like cookers but they are not receptacles.
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
You have to have other receptacles for heavier loads, or is there no quick unplugging of anything but items that use that particular receptacle. There about has to be some cord and plug type of assemblies for some industrial applications or else you need an electrician for every frequent interchange situation that we often use higher amperage receptacles for around these parts. The user doesn't need to know how to connect it, just how to push the plug into the receptacle.It's the only receptacle. There are other outlets for things like cookers but they are not receptacles.
Now I can see that being the only receptacle used in the typical household. Other than ranges and clothes dryers most of equipment used in the typical US household would only require one receptacle type if there was only one common utilization voltage like you have.
For single phase domestic, that's it. There are no others. At 13A it is about 3kW for resistive.
Yes, for industrial use there are 3-phase plugs and sockets.
That's for 32A, 400V, 3-phase+n
I think having just one voltage has merits.
kwired
Electron manager
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- NE Nebraska
But think of all the money the device manufacturers make. If you made it so there was only one product to use - that is just anti-Americanism at its finest:happyyes:
iceworm
Curmudgeon still using printed IEEE Color Books
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- EE (Field - as little design as possible)
Does the "n" pin supply the equipment grounding condutor?
Or does it not have an equipment grounding conductor?
ice
Not to mention the loss of revenue for electricians having to find lost neutrals!
Or the replacement sales of kit that got hit by the more than intended 120V.
Horrifying thoughts....
hmy:
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
That's right, the more complicated we can keep things the more true the "professional" title becomes:happyyes:Not to mention the loss of revenue for electricians having to find lost neutrals!
Or the replacement sales of kit that got hit by the more than intended 120V.
Horrifying thoughts....
The n is the neutral. It is usually earthed (grounded) back at the supply transformer.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
maybe the better question (and probably what iceworm was after) is can the neutral carry current for line to neutral loads or is it for grounding purposes only, and if there is an application where there are line to neutral loads would you need a fifth conductor for that purpose?
It's a current carrying conductor.
iceworm
Curmudgeon still using printed IEEE Color Books
- Location
- North of the 65 parallel
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- EE (Field - as little design as possible)
Usually, in my experience, a separate conductor is run for that.
Adrian (another Brit here) has given examples where sometimes the neutral is grounded at various points.
I'll try to dig up some pics.
AdrianWint
Senior Member
- Location
- Midlands, UK
Somebody called ???
As Besoeker correctly states, the 13A plug is the one & only domestic connector here is the UK. The plug contains a fuse which is chosen to be appropriate to the device its connected to. Command values are 3A, 5A & 13A but 1A, 2A, 7A & 10A are also made.
In commercial environments we use the 'ceeform' connector which I think you US guys know as a 'pin & sleeve' connector. Common sizes are 16A, 32A, 63A & 125A. These exist in 3pin single phase (line + neutral + earth), 4pin (three phase plus earth) & 5 pin (three phase plus neutral + earth).
125A is the biggest common 'standard' connector although I have seen specialist plug & sockets upto 630A.
The neutral is a current carrying conductor. The earth should only ever carry fault current - its not a 'full time' current carrying conductor.
Our European cousins (France, Germany, Netherlands etc) tend to us the 'Shuko' connector. This is an amalgamation of the French & German connector. Its a three pole device (live, neutral & earth) rated at 16A and is wired on radial (hone run) circuits. Wikipedia has a decent article on the beastie.
As Besoeker correctly states, the 13A plug is the one & only domestic connector here is the UK. The plug contains a fuse which is chosen to be appropriate to the device its connected to. Command values are 3A, 5A & 13A but 1A, 2A, 7A & 10A are also made.
In commercial environments we use the 'ceeform' connector which I think you US guys know as a 'pin & sleeve' connector. Common sizes are 16A, 32A, 63A & 125A. These exist in 3pin single phase (line + neutral + earth), 4pin (three phase plus earth) & 5 pin (three phase plus neutral + earth).
125A is the biggest common 'standard' connector although I have seen specialist plug & sockets upto 630A.
The neutral is a current carrying conductor. The earth should only ever carry fault current - its not a 'full time' current carrying conductor.
Our European cousins (France, Germany, Netherlands etc) tend to us the 'Shuko' connector. This is an amalgamation of the French & German connector. Its a three pole device (live, neutral & earth) rated at 16A and is wired on radial (hone run) circuits. Wikipedia has a decent article on the beastie.
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iceworm
Curmudgeon still using printed IEEE Color Books
- Location
- North of the 65 parallel
- Occupation
- EE (Field - as little design as possible)
Edit: Just saw Adrian's article. I'm less surprised
How do you do that? The plug has a plastic shell (non-conductive) and the 4th pin is a neutral. An external bonding conductor really jacks up the impedance that a fault would see? Color me confused.
Deleted - I got it now based on Adrian's post. I erased the confused coloring - or perhaps in this case, the colouring.
ice
How do you do that? The plug has a plastic shell (non-conductive) and the 4th pin is a neutral. An external bonding conductor really jacks up the impedance that a fault would see? Color me confused.
Deleted - I got it now based on Adrian's post. I erased the confused coloring - or perhaps in this case, the colouring.
ice
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