240v 10amp breaker (1 Viewer)

[pappajohn]

just finished installing two extra 240v sockets.

i opened the consumer unit to find a single 10a MCB radial circuit to feed all sockets,heating and aircon unit and possibly the fridge and a single 6a MCB for the water boiler and possibly the fridge. (forgot to check which circuit for the fridge.)

the RCD main switch is 40a.

when we rewire houses we use a 32a MCB/RCD for socket ring circuits and 16a for radial circuits.

the aircon unit alone uses 7amps which doesnt leave a lot for other stuff.

do any of you techies know a reason for the 10a MCB as opposed to a 16a and is this the norm ?
all cables are 2.5mmsq 3core flex(L+N+Earth) and relatively short in length so quite capable of carrying 16amp.

is it to do with splitting the load for the 16a hookup post? 10a + 6a MCBs
thats the only thing i can think of.

suppose one advantage of the 10a is, i wont trip the 16a site supply 'cos it'll trip in the van first.

 

[olley]

No idea papa, mine has a 16amp MCB.

Olley

 

[pappajohn]

thanks Olley.:thumb:

but yours will have had a uk conversion, or do they use the same consumer unit and breakers?

could be normal on euro boxs, even uk ones.

as soon as someone confirms their uk/euro van has a 16a MCB it'll get changed.:thumb:

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[pappajohn]

looking back.....there are two radial circuits feed from one MCB.......three now :thumb:

 

[olley]

hi papa its just a standard plastic fuse box, RCCD and 2 MCB's, 1 for the 230 and one for the 110.

you can just see it on the left of the locker side.

 

[pappajohn]

cheers Olley....that'll do for me.:thumb:

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[shortcircuit]

The size of an mcb has absolutely nothing to do with the load it provides. The breaker is there to protect the cable feeding the load and should be a value less than the current capacity of the cable.

If your radials(or rings) are in 2.5mm you have no problems using a 16A mcb

Why a 10A instead of a 16A, as that is your question, ??????. As you suggest, possibly trying to limit the current taken from the hookup.

Edit Just thought that obviously the mcb is related to the load, but it must be sized to protect the cable and the size of cable used must be suitable for the load it feeds.

Sorry if I am going round in circles

 

[sinbad1]

John

I have an autotrail the cosumer unit consists of 2 x 10A and a 6A

Think the 6A feeds the fridge 10a ring and 10a heating

Regards

 

[scotjimland]

The breaker is there to protect the cable feeding the load and should be a value less than the current capacity of the cable.

If your radials(or rings) are in 2.5mm you have no problems using a 16A mcb

Hi John
I agree with this, mine is also a 16A MCB for the sockets.

However, as also said it's probably done like that to stop you tripping the EHU , if it's not an issue then leave it as it is.

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