Is this normal? Glowing rod?

[SipMerlin150]

Heres the stuff i have purchased : http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electric...2-5mm-Twin-and-Earth-Cable-Reel-100m-11348093

6mm is massive for a domestic welder, i guess i mean to describe the cable type rather than say 'those flat grey cables you see for use inside walls of buildings'

 

[SipMerlin150]

Does it comply to BS 1362? [/QUOTE

I talked to an electrician and described it, he asked if i had actual RCB and modern circuit breakers, and he said it should be fine, our house sockets are on 35 amps upstairs and 35 amps downstairs. They are quite sensitive breakers, if a bulb pops, the breaker goes.

Oddly enough, the electric cooker socket (which is never used) shares the same breaker as the downstairs plug sockets... Plenty of other people have theirs on seperate breakers don't they?

 

[Robotstar5]

You should have got this but in 2.5mm² from an electrical wholesalers.

 

[SipMerlin150]

You should have got this but in 2.5mm² from an electrical wholesalers.

I only needed about 5 meters, and they only had reels at 25 meters in stuff like that. I was looking at armoured cable at first.

 

[rich r]

Have a look at what your welder has attached to it. My 160A one has 1.5mm2 flex, and draws 16.5A from the mains when at 160A (according to my calculations, which have proved right for the limit of what I can go up to before blowing a 13A fuse).

2.5mm2 cable is rated for 20A continuous. A house ring main has a 32A MCB (or ideally an RCBO), wired with 2.5mm2 cable - but it's a ring, so both ends are connected to that breaker. Hence it won't carry more than 20A, as current will flow from both directions.

Electric ovens generally have a 13A plug on the end, so would go on the normal kitchen ring. But an electric hob needs a dedicated 30A supply, as they have much higher heat outputs.

If your MCB is tripping too easily, then it's probably a Type B one - you can fit a Type C (or even Type D) which are slower to react. But you have to be sure that the wiring is up to the overload current that'll be there for longer obviously.

The blue 16A 'commando' plugs are rated for 20A in short periods, so are fine for the average 150/160A buzzbox for home use.

 

[brightspark]

Have a look at what your welder has attached to it. My 160A one has 1.5mm2 flex, and draws 16.5A from the mains when at 160A (according to my calculations, which have proved right for the limit of what I can go up to before blowing a 13A fuse).

2.5mm2 cable is rated for 20A continuous. A house ring main has a 32A MCB (or ideally an RCBO), wired with 2.5mm2 cable - but it's a ring, so both ends are connected to that breaker. Hence it won't carry more than 20A, as current will flow from both directions.

Electric ovens generally have a 13A plug on the end, so would go on the normal kitchen ring. But an electric hob needs a dedicated 30A supply, as they have much higher heat outputs.

If your MCB is tripping too easily, then it's probably a Type B one - you can fit a Type C (or even Type D) which are slower to react. But you have to be sure that the wiring is up to the overload current that'll be there for longer obviously.

The blue 16A 'commando' plugs are rated for 20A in short periods, so are fine for the average 150/160A buzzbox for home use.

how do u work that one out. a ring main is wired in 2.5 on a ring and it will only carry 20 amp ?? a radial 2.5 will carry 20 amp. a ring wired in 2.5 ends up being 5.omm and will carry 32 amp single ovens are rated at 13 amp a double oven that can both be used together are rated at 20 amp

 

[rich r]

I meant it wouldn't be more than 20A on any section of wire, so within the limits of 2.5mm2 cable - because of being wired as a ring. Though granted, I didn't put it very well reading it back...

And I forgot about double ovens as we don't have one