ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Electric service size

The 252 LW transmitter is absolutely huge. I have no idea what the output on it is but I know it's enough to have caused local residents to protest strongly.

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On the undersized cabling issue. I know of at least one installation in England where a friend of mine noticed that when he plugged in the vacuum cleaner in the bedrooms the power failed at the socket. On further investigation she found that the previous owner had simply replaced the old 2 and 5Amp outlets with 13 Amp ! At least he hadn't bypassed the old fuses though.

I've seen 13A sockets spurred from a 5A lighting circuit a few times.

The typical time it comes to light is during a room rearrangement, like the one I found a while back where a socket in a teenage girl's bedroom which had previously only run a bedside light was now "just right" for her hairdryer.

There was a time in the US when a 30-amp 120-volt 2-wire or 120/240-volt 3-wire service was more than adequate, particularly with gas heating. Air conditioners and resistance heat starting in the 1950s changed all that. In place from before the 1950s, probably about 25% of original 30-amp services are still doing fine.

I like the power hook-up pole for the trailer. Is that individual open wires on the service drop to it and just 120V?

Paul, I’m fairly certain you’re right about it being 120V. The image is from the US Library of Congress; no doubt during the days of promoting “electricity and progress for everyone.” The drop wires are probably “weatherproof wire” which had a thin but tough coat of rubber. US utility practices differentiate them as “covered” but not officially “insulated.”




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 10-07-2003).]