Internal wiring of USA v UK mains plug

Where did I say it was multi-pair? I said that it was over 50 pairs. Shielded multi-pair audio cables wasn't being used for school intercoms when this system was built, and the architect's specs called for stranded 22 AWG Alpha twisted pair, shielded cable with a plastic jacket. If it was multi-pair, there would be no need to tag the individual pairs, would there?

I DID use 66 series 25 pair terminal blocks to rewire that cabinet, so you could flip out a couple bridging clips to troubleshoot the wiring.

What part of "Dedicated circuit" don't you get?

Wolfi wrote in news:MHDii.10276$% snipped-for-privacy@newsfe21.lga:

No, we have been mostly talking of the merits of the UK BS1363 vs the typical US NEMA 5-15, with a noted tangent on other plugs around the world, and outside of the typical ones in the US/UK.

Spurious Response wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Being as they have 100V service (rather than 120V, or 240V), they use lower wattage appliances. I don't know how they handle high power.

You also have to account for losses at the kettle itself. They do not transfer 100% of the energy, and the higher wattage units radiate a lot more, so they are slightly lossy-er.

I'll stick with my infinitely (FAIAP) variable gas, thanks.

It was quite obvious that I was not asking you about you.

I do not have, nor do I need AC here, near the shore. Inland becomes a different story.

Do they only have 100V or is it a split 100/200V system more similar to the US arrangement? I had assumed the latter, but I've never looked into it.

I never said, that the compressor plug was bent at all. It is still in original condition, so is the power outlet as well. But it is mounted to a column inside a shop at about 1.20m height and the s***ty power connector system just isn't capable of supporting the relatively thick, rubber insulated cables weight until it hits the floor, without letting the plug slip out over time, until at least one spade starts losing contact. As an additional hint: in this case, the ground pin is at the bottom, the 2 spades on top. I'm simply reporting first hand experiences with the U.S. system, and compare them to others with connector systems, where the removable part dives with its housing into the receptacle to some degree.

For serious stuff, use a twist-lok.

John

Firsthand experience of someone who is unable to anchor a heavy cord?

So where does the energy that is not transfered go?

Radiant heat losses is exactly why a more powerful kettle would consume *less*. It gets the job done quicker and the time it will radiate heat is shorter, which makes it more efficient.

Where does the 'spare' energy go? Pretty well all of the energy is transferred to the water. Of course a lack of insulation means some of this is wasted.

A gas burner definitely doesn't transmit 100% of the energy to the water.

I'd say you've no experience of a 3kW electric kettle. They boil faster than using a gas ring and of course cut off automatically. Gas also produces moisture as it burns so makes more mess in the kitchen.

Work it out. The element is entirely surrounded by the water you want to heat. So all the energy, apart from that conducted bak into the cable, passes into the water. Most electric kettles these days are plastic, so not much gets throgh the sides. Rather more escapes through the top, especially while the kettle is actually boiling- I use this energy to preheat the teapot. So efficiency is pretty good. A more powerful kettle is better because there is less heat lost through the top and sides when you are heating it.

As for gas, most of the energy simply wafts round the outside of the kettle, and never heats the water at all- it just heats the universe. Which isn't to say that it's not generally the best way to cook.

Paul Burke

Oy! It's the other way round here, you pay 22p/kWhr for the first N units, then about 15p thereafter. It's supposed to cover fixed costs like the meter (which was there years ago and must have payed for itself many times over at that rate).

Modern auto-shutoff 'cordless' electric kettles are a great convenience.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Crikey - they're hardly new. ;-)

--

Dave Plowman snipped-for-privacy@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"P" is pence? Roughly 44 cents/kwh? Yikes!

Our low rate is called the "lifeline" rate, for poor people who presumably need a modest amount of power to get along.

The great thing about this climate - chilly all the time - is that we don't worry much about wasting gas or electricity: it all goes to heat the house. What I really should do is arrange to recover some of the heat in wastewater, like an outgoing/incoming heat exchanger or something. The water comes in ice-cold.

It's going to be hot here today: 8 AM, and it's already 60F, and the fog is burning off.

John

The house we're building is going to have that not for water, but for air (outgoing warm air heats up the incoming air in a heat exchanger). This makes a difference only in extremely well-insulated houses though.

robert