On 2015-06-15 18:22, James Knott wrote:
On 06/15/2015 10:06 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
The standard here (Spain) is 20A. 50A for full electrical house
The more I read your posts, the greater my impression that things are really strange in Spain. In North America, a 100A service is typical and many have more. This is the 240/120V split phase system, so that high power loads have 240V available, but most devices run on 120. One advantage with this system is when the loads are balanced, the neutral wire "disappears".
Here it is three phases, at 400V. On a building, only the elevator would use that. Domestic users get only one of the phases, and the neutral, at 230 (Spain was 220, UK and some others 240. Now all are supposed to be 230). If loads balance, the neutral carries none or little current. I haven't seen that 240/120 split phase system here (I know what it is, I have lived in Canada some time). My house is old and doesn't have heating; I just have two gas stoves, and some small (500W) electric heaters, but never more than two rooms at a time. My 10A/230V supply is exceptionally low (but I have seen less, 5 or 6 A). Typical would be 15A/230V. Higher voltage means that a "Residual-current device" is mandatory for the entire house. See pictures here <http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruptor_diferencial> Modern houses typically have ducted gas (with hot water convectors and pipes distributing the heat <http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiador_%28calefacci%C3%B3n%29>). Many houses use diesel fuel, some coal, some wood pellets. The same system can be used for the bath hot water. If there is no gas/oil house heating, the typical alternative is a an insulated water accumulator, heated electrically, with an element inside the water (scary, eh? LOL). This is what I have: <http://www.leroymerlin.es/fp/13627642/termo-electrico-tnc_vertical?pathFamilaFicha=5005>. It is 1200W, 50 litres of hot water (max 90°C), but there are units sold of 200 litres. And in my case, I have a diode connected in series, so that I halved the power to 600W. Sure, takes longer to heat up. No problem :-) Many kitchens use gas (bottled, like me, or via pipes). The traditional electric cooker that I have seen in Canada is almost unknown here. The modern "in" thing since years is to use "vitroceramic" (maybe the translation is incorrect - <http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocina_vitrocer%C3%A1mica>). But the real cool thing is to have an "induction cooker": heat is generated directly on the metal recipients, the surface of the stove is cold. They are expensive, but use quite very little electricity. All that means that the typical electrical (peak) load here is lower. And then, as all devices run at 230 volts, the current used is half than in north America. There are exceptions, of course. The entire house could use electric heating. I have friends that do, and they may have 50 amps or more. But the typical house here is a "flat" or apartment, not a "detached" house, so smaller volume. -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 13.1 x86_64 "Bottle" at Telcontar)