Modern Domestic Electrics

A typical modern household appliance and utilisation list can include for the kitchen - lighting, unit lighting, one or two electric ovens, microwave oven, steam oven, a mix of gas and electric hobs, deep fat fryer, grill, cooker hood with extract fan, boiling tap, plate warming draws, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, waste disposal unit, slow cooker, coffee maker, food mixer, juicer, kettle, toaster, bread maker, toasted sandwich maker, television, blu-ray player, television boxes, computer terminal and telephone; in the living rooms - lighting, hi fi systems (now referred to as AV systems), television, blu-ray player, television boxes, computer terminal and telephone; in each bedroom - lighting, hair dryer, hair straightners, games console, television, blu-ray player, television boxes, computer terminal and telephone; in the bathroom - lighting, television, electric shower, electric shaver, electric toothbrushes; general use - immersion heater, heating controls, stair lift, vacuum cleaner, iron, portable device battery chargers; externally - electric gates, electric garage doors, exterior lighting, electric gardening tools. The maximum demand can be as high as 15kVA.

Before starting the design process the following observation is made. England is at present part of the European Union which has a total of twenty eight countries in that Union, however there are six different types of domestic plugs and sockets, the Shuko plug which is amongst the most popular and two other types of plugs are not polarised, they can be inserted either way round, thus making the phase and neutral connections indeterminate, only the BS 1363 plug is equipped with a fuse.

Thus there is a mismatch within the European Union.

The obvious solution is to standardise on IEC plugs; which none of the countries of the EU use at present, thereby negating accusations of favouring one country over another; with the socket outlets being equipped with MCBs or RCBOs which are now small enough to be fitted within socket outlets. If plugs and sockets use the IEC 60320 type C20 and C19 16A three pin plugs and shuttered sockets; and/or type C14 and C13 10A three pin plugs and shuttered sockets it would allow ring and radial circuits to be utilised and would make the plugs common throughout the European Union.