On Thu, 06 Apr 2017 12:36:25 +0000, Martin Gregorie wrote:

> On Wed, 05 Apr 2017 22:33:00 -0400, rickman wrote:
>
>> On 4/5/2017 8:43 PM, Martin Gregorie wrote:
>>> On Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:28:00 +1200, Bill McGarrity wrote:
>>>
>>>> -=> rickman wrote to All on 04-05-17 17:07 <=-
>>>>
>>>>  ri> That is another smart thing the UK does.  In the US circuits are
>>>>  ri> typically 15 amps which can safely be carried over 16 gauge
>>>>  wire.
>>>>  So ri> every device that plugs into an AC outlet uses 16 gauge wire
>>>>  even if it ri> only draws less than an amp.
>>>>
>>>> US code for house wiring is 14 gauge for 15a circuits and 12 gauge
>>>> for 20a service. Distance is also a factor in determining both wire
>>>> gauge and service amps (600ft for 14/3 [15a] and 800ft for 12/3
>>>> [20a]).
>>>>
>>> One thing that really worried me when I was living there was the way
>>> cables to the more energy-intensive appliances heated up during normal
>>> use when laid out across a floor. That was something I wasn't used to
>>> feeling.
>>>
>>> Of course, 110v has a lot to answer for there: in the UK a 3kw heater
>>> or power tool draws 12.5A, just under the 13A limit for standard
>>> plugs,
>>> but a 3kw appliance will draw 27.25A in the USA - and its amps, not
>>> volts, that melts or burns insulation off a cable.
>>
>> In the US a 3 kW appliance will run on 240 volts.  We have 15 amp 120
>> volt circuits normally and you can have a 20 amp 120 volt circuit with
>> a slightly different socket which will also accept the 15 amp plugs,
>> but they are not common.  If you need more than about 1.5 kW you use a
>> 240 volt outlet with currents starting at 15 amp I believe.
>
> Fair comment, but I still remember those hot (above blood heat) cables
> on vacuum cleaners and all the warnings about not leaving power cables
> coiled up.

the reason for not leaving cables coiled up is because if you do you have
just created a large & inefficient transformer



--
All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05