Re: Grand Apagon - Electricity (not) in Spain

On 5/2/2025 2:20 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-05-02 03:40, Don Y wrote:

On 5/1/2025 5:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-05-02 01:38, Don Y wrote:

>
I noted that some induction cooktops had design limitations
restricting how many "burners" could be active.  One would have
hoped they would be able to time-division multiplex the
application of power to allow for all heat sources to be in use.

>
Some do. I have seen some stoves that limit the total load, and allow the user to configure that limit. Not the number of burners.

>
I was under the impression (without investigating) that some
key bit of electronics was multiplexed between the burners,
based on actual usage.

 They convert the input AC to DC. That part can be shared.

I was thinking it was more than that;  like the drive electronics
were being shared (only installing enough to run two burners...
yet allowing the user to decide WHICH two.)

Here, we often use the entire stovetop (4 burners plus warmer)
AND have something in at least one of the ovens.  I have assumed
that the software "schedules" power distribution to meet the
current (no pun) demands placed on the appliance.
>
It would be interesting to test that limit and see if the
stove is aware of it and what (if anything) it does to
convey that limitation to us!

 In my case, I have to be aware of everything that is using electricity in the house, and then select the power at the burner, and whether I can use both or not, or the microwave simultaneously.

It is not uncommon for older homes (that didn't anticipate all
of the loads that would come along, over time) to "blow a breaker"
(branch circuit) by temporarily exceeding it's limit.  A neighbor
used to blow a breaker when he turned on the "garbage disposal"
while the microwave was running.  I.e., a poor choice of load
distributions.
You are required to have two 20A (2400W derated to ~1800W) circuits
for countertop appliances -- electric frying pans, toaster ovens,
stand mixers, etc.  This, an acknowledgement that there are
many such loads that intermittently appear in a kitchen.
The rest of the (kitchen's) wiring is not as highly prescribed.
E.g., here, the refrigerator is on a dedicated (1800W derated to 1440W)
circuit so no other load can trip it (food perishing).  The garbage
disposal, dishwasher, stove/oven (of course), microwave oven, etc.
are all distributed around other circuits so no combination of
their operations will trip a breaker.
The required two counter circuits have been wired so alternating
outlets are on the same branch circuit.  In this way, you can know if
the outlet you are about to use has any other loads currently attached
(splitting the branch circuits "left" and "right" is a poor division
as one tends to work in a particular AREA -- left/right -- so having
a choice of two branch circuits in each area is more valuable)

If I hit the limit, the electricity to the house is cut off, and the procedure to restore is a bit cumbersome.
 So far, I have never hit the limit.

We would frequently exceed your limit -- just with the loads that
normally cycle.
My automation system will draw 3000W when fully deployed.  Of course, the
software is smart enough to adjust the actual load to the available
power (solar sourced, no significant backup) so it can exploit any
surplus of power and still not have large static demands.