Interesting thread and a little "mention of twin socket rating" well sort of inference, if you like.

[DetlefSchmitz]

was it materially (or at all!) different from the 1995 version

Well, I can't get very excited by how they are meeting the challenges!

To meet these challenges the BS 1363 series 2023 revision now includes the following
key changes:
• The scope of all five parts now cover operating frequencies from 50 Hz to 60 Hz.
• Modification to requirements for actuating members of switches to include single
push-button switches where the actuating member takes up a single rest position.
• New requirements for switch actuating force test for double-pole switches.
• Insulation and Electric Strength test now includes provision for both indicators and incorporated electronic components to be disconnected.
• Current carrying parts made of brass are required to have a minimum content of 58% Copper.
• Overload test for plugs now requires rewireable plugs to be fitted with 13 A fuse-links
and non-rewireable plugs fitted with highest rated fuse-links specified in Table 2 of
BS 1363-1 for the cable fitted.
• A new requirement forbidding the suspension of a plug or an adaptor in an inverted orientation unless permitted in the manufacturer’s instructions.
• BS 1363-2 now includes tests and requirements for socket-outlets incorporating Circuit Breakers for Equipment (CBE).
• BS 1363-2 now includes a new definition for individually protected socket-outlet (IPS) and includes tests and requirements for IPS.
• Socket-outlet and adaptor switches cannot not be used to switch incorporated electronic
components other than an indicator lamp.
• Modification of mounting box clearance requirements for flush mounted socket-outlets.
• Re-useable fixings of any type, including tamperproof and security screws cannot be used for non-rewireable portable socket- outlets, non-rewireable intermediate adaptors and adaptor plugs.
• Switches conforming to BS EN IEC 61058:2018 or BS EN 60669-1:2018 incorporated in
socket-outlets do not need to be tested for normal operation.
• Modification of Annex requirements for incorporated electronic components. Specifically,
USB circuits intended for charging portable devices with the addition of Abnormal
condition.
• New Annex in BS 1363-2 containing recommendations for products that incorporate
BS 1363-2 socket-outlets.
• Change to the requirements governing voltage and current ratings of adaptors incorporating electronic components.
• New adaptor requirements for the maximum number of socket-outlets on the same plane.

 

[catlad]

We as a child had 3 kW electric fires, not seen them in years.

Threw me across the room when I decided to touch it to see if it was coming on!

 

[JohnW2]

I do not expect a pile of dead bodies to be lining the streets if we "upgrade" from 13A total to 26A total and increase the expected usage time from 4 hours to 8 hours but I do believe it might well cause some problems that are best avoided. Unless BS states the 13A rating is not for the total load but can be increased significantly the I still believe they should tell us that we have misunderstood.

As always, no Standard can dictate the 'rating' of a product - that is entirely up to the manufacturer, provided only that their product at least satisfies the 'minimum requirement' specified in the Standard.

Since it seems perfectly reasonable that people might expect that a socket with two '13A' outlets should be able to supply two 13A loads simultaneously, it seems (to me!) 'wrong' that sockets not capable of ('safely') supplying 2 x 13A loads have ever been manufactured, regardless of what tests the relevant product Standard may require the product to pass.

 

[JohnW2]

Well, I can't get very excited by how they are meeting the challenges! ...

If that's the sum total of the changes, that makes two of us

Kind Regards, John

 

[ericmark]

Since it seems perfectly reasonable that people might expect that a socket with two '13A' outlets should be able to supply two 13A loads simultaneously, it seems (to me!) 'wrong' that sockets not capable of ('safely') supplying 2 x 13A loads have ever been manufactured, regardless of what tests the relevant product Standard may require the product to pass.

Out of interest I looked up the smart sockets I have used, it says

- Socket Rating 220 - 250V~ 50Hz, 13A, 3000W max. each socket

if a smart socket is 3 kW each socket, why would we consider a simple socket to be less?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Another thing to ask is that when the UK double socket was first made, would any of the (presumably intelligent) designers have said "Although obviously two 13A items might be plugged in, we only need to make it capable of carrying a total of 13A (or 18A or 20A or whatever).

Having decided that, how would they then do that without limiting each side to 6.5A (or 9A or 10A or whatever) which would be ridiculous?

It does not make sense that this is the case.

 

[ebee]

Eric, was that the "standard" for USB sockets themselves or just the spec from one (or more) particular manufacturer.
I suppose it is also inevitable that let`s say, theoretically, that even if some standard says each Mains) socket must be able to supply 13A but combined not to exceed 20A total then some manufacturers might hide that last bit about the 20A limit unless compelled to by the standard.
I am not suggest that any manufacturers actually do this trick, however both me and thee are old enough to remember some manufacturers/service providers doing all sorts of tricks to either deceive us or to put it nicely to encourage us to decive ourselves.
To be fair, partly, can you imagine such businesses being completely honest and fair if most of their competitor's are not as fair so have a distinct advantage.
Laws and rules have evolved from the 60s to today to correct such loopholes but they might always find a way to circumvent the intent of parliament if not the actual law itself as written.
That is part of being in business, to be better than some competitor's and stay in business and be a roaring success.

The world, as in our country too, has found ways to get around some things even if as going to seemingly absurd methods.
We all like to get the best outcome for ourselves. It is human nature.
Nobody stands on a street corner and announces " Come and buy my rotten apples" ?

 

[JohnD]

We as a child had 3 kW electric fires, not seen them in years.

Fan heaters and panel heaters now.

 

[ebee]

yup 3KW were quite popular in fan heaters I remember we had one for years, if we had two and used them on the same circuit it would have been quite a load, even when our house got modernised by a rewire and we had a ring with a 30A rewireble fuse then two could have made a sizeable dent in the load capacity, throw in that electric fan fire poker starter (not sure what that rating was) and one or two other bits and hey!
But it was fairly "Normal" for folks.

 

[JohnW2]

... if a smart socket is 3 kW each socket, why would we consider a simple socket to be less?

As you know, I'm personally doubtful that that is the case

 

[IJWS15]

There is a thread from many years ago discussing this, as an engineer by training I struggle with the idea that a product can be released onto the market which is capable of having two 13 A loads connected but is not safe if you do that AND there is nothing telling the general public that the product is not safe if you do it.

IIRC in Switzerland they have different designs of plugs with different ratings and you can't physically plug two higher rated appliances into a multiple (I recall three outlet) socket but can fir three of the lower rated plugs..

 

[JohnW2]

Another thing to ask is that when the UK double socket was first made, would any of the (presumably intelligent) designers have said "Although obviously two 13A items might be plugged in, we only need to make it capable of carrying a total of 13A (or 18A or 20A or whatever).

Totally agreed, but in what sense is that "another thing to ask", given that I recently wrote ...

..... Since it seems perfectly reasonable that people might expect that a socket with two '13A' outlets should be able to supply two 13A loads simultaneously, it seems (to me!) 'wrong' that sockets not capable of ('safely') supplying 2 x 13A loads have ever been manufactured, regardless of what tests the relevant product Standard may require the product to pass.

 

[JohnW2]

Fan heaters and panel heaters now.

Panel heaters, yes, but it's unusual to see fan heaters more than 2 kW.

 

[JohnW2]

There is a thread from many years ago discussing this, as an engineer by training I struggle with the idea that a product can be released onto the market which is capable of having two 13 A loads connected but is not safe if you do that AND there is nothing telling the general public that the product is not safe if you do it.

Exactly - and, despite all the views one sees expressed, I think there are few (if any) manufacturers who say that their double sockets are not 'rated' for 2 x 13A loads. For example, although people argue, I think it extremely likely that MK's "13A per socket outlet" is intended tio mean 2 x 13A for a double socket.

Furthermore, as I've recently been saying, I'm very far from convinced that the reports we see about thermal damage to heavy-loaded double sockets has got anything to do with the fact that the socket was 'double' - since (a) the overheating nearly always seems to originate in the plug and (b) I personally have seen this more often in (heavily loaded) single sockets.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Totally agreed, but in what sense is that "another thing to ask", given that I recently wrote ...

I was pointing out the additional consequences that for a double socket not to be capable of handling 26A, it must mean that one side would not be capable of handling the 14A of the test.

Therefore if a double socket can only handle 18A (14 + 4), that must be 9A on each side as both sides are the same - i.e. obviously ridiculous.