Working out your AMPS for Hook Up....

[jiffyman]

If you are worried about overloading your hook up mcb when on site, here is a way you can add up you appliances....

You need to know the wattage, and then divide that by the voltage (240v) then you have the Amps that it will draw...

So, a 3000watt heater (3kw) divide by the 240v = 12.5 amps

or
a 100w light bulb divided by 240v = 0.41 amps.

So you can now add up your total amps so you dont trip out the hook up mcb....

hope this helps

[Graham]

Thanks Jiffy, thats worth stickying for future reference.

Graham

[jiffyman]

As a certain supermarket says... every little helps... and that is a 'little' i do remember from college!!!

[colin]

If anyone is in doubt for a particular appliance the watts & Amps are usually quoted in the manual or on the little plate/lable that gives the model number etc.
I usually allow a little leeway by making sure that the total I have on at anyone time is never more than 90% 0f the MCB capacity, that allows for any peak during switch on etc. This is more important if you have things with motors/fans eg fridge.

[sandwoodfolk]

My late father-in-law, who was very methodical, stuck labels on the plugs of each piece of equipment showing the amperage. I thought this was very sensible, but, being nowhere near as methodical, have never got round to doing it!

[caz]

That always seems to me to be the hard way of doing it. Most appliances have a sticker on them (or moulded in to the plastic) that gives the wattage.

If on a 10 amp EHU you have (10 x 230v) 2,300 watts - just add up the watts for each appliance. Much easier than having to convert each appliance from watts to amps.