3 ms·
Not expert but one difference is that in Germany the standard wiring is radial circuits with 16A MCBs while in the UK it's ring wiring with 32A MCBs. So in the
by mytailorisrich 7mo ago
Not expert but one difference is that in Germany the standard wiring is radial circuits with 16A MCBs while in the UK it's ring wiring with 32A MCBs.
So in the UK we have 2.5mm^2 wires in a ring on a 32A MCBs... Of course a 2.5mm^2 wire is rated ~20A so any issues with the ring (sockets still work since connected from the other branch) can burn the wire before the MCB trips...
- formerly_proven 7mo agoThe "standard" wiring is 1.5mm² on 16A MCBs which are rated to trip at 1.13-1.45x nominal current (so 18-23 A). So this is already mildly improper because you can pull elevated currents continuously and dramatically shorten the life of the insulation.
- kevin_thibedeau 7mo agoThe rated ampacity of wire for electrical distribution has a significant margin on it.
- PaulDavisThe1st 7mo agoDoes anyone know the US equivalent terminology for a "ring final" ?
- hamdingers 7mo agoWe would call it "a serious code violation." It's prohibited in the NEC and always has been, it's objectively less safe. From what I understand the UK allowed it because of a severe postwar copper shortage and it persists to this day because it's allowed and a bit cheaper.
- deleted 7mo ago[deleted]
- bell-cot 7mo ago> From what I understand the UK allowed it because ... I'd say "severe post-WWII money shortage". After wartime expansion, the global copper industry could physically meet peacetime demands. But the UK was very close to national bankruptcy. And the Luftwaffe had turned an awful lot of their prewar housing into rubble. So - any cost that could be cut, was.