Can anyone supply me their view of the 16th edition with respect to volt drop and current capability.
I am taking a supply from a third party (with their permission) to a site some 180m away. The third party has insisted that I use 16mm sq SWA to minimise the volt drop. This I accept.
He has calculated (and I concur) that I will remain in the "permissible" voltage range if I restrict my load to 8A. To do this, he is stating that (by the 16th Edition) he needs to fuse the source of my supply with 8A.
This is where we start to disagree.
I consider that the purpose of the outgoing fuse is to protect the cable, thus with 16mm sq, I should (in theory) be good for about 90A. However I shall be prepared to accept 16A that will allow me to run a welder (albeit at lower volts than upstream).
So, I accept that it is his supply and theoretically he could fuse it at 5A (if he wanted) but is there anything in the Wiring Regs that says he must current limit it to prevent me doing damage to my equipment? Surely if he states that the maximum current I can take is 8A to stay within the permissible voltage range, if I decide to exceed that's my problem? (and any damage I do to my equipment is my responsibility).
As it is, the only loads are likely to be fluorescent lights, kettle, welder (ocasionally), compressor (ocasionally) and step down transformers to 110v, 24v and 12v (which I shall tap to suit).
Cheers
Peter