In-Rush Current on Pressure Washer

[SKY]

Have an install where a professional pressure washer is popping the fuse on start up.

The circuit is a 16a Radial from board to garage approx 15m long all fed by 2.5mm.

The washer is a commercial 1 phase unit and has the auto start and stop once the trigger is pressed as soon as the owner starts the machine the mcb pops out.

Washer is 2.8kw so 12a - the fluke says its pulling 11.35 when running but the inrush current is nearly 50 amps for a split second.

Will changing the MCB to a C curve 20amp cope for the split second (board is crabtree starbreaker so c curve is all I can go upto).
It works perfectly when plugged into a 32A ring.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Yes.
And I'm not surprised a 32A didn't trip.

 

[telectrix]

a 20A C type will probably get you out of trouble here.

 

[Marvo]

Have an install where a professional pressure washer is popping the fuse on start up.

The circuit is a 16a Radial from board to garage approx 15m long all fed by 2.5mm.

The washer is a commercial 1 phase unit and has the auto start and stop once the trigger is pressed as soon as the owner starts the machine the mcb pops out.

Washer is 2.8kw so 12a - the fluke says its pulling 11.35 when running but the inrush current is nearly 50 amps for a split second.

Will changing the MCB to a C curve 20amp cope for the split second (board is crabtree starbreaker so c curve is all I can go upto).
It works perfectly when plugged into a 32A ring.

Your opening post is confusing. If it's tripping a b curve MCB then a c curve would be the remedy. If it's blowing a fuse then it's possibly a fault with the appliance, fuses are generally a lot more forgiving than an MCB.

 

[SKY]

Popping the fuse is a generic term in my book and 99% of the sparks I work with will understand.
also all uk pros would have understood the setup as I said the board was Crabtree star breaker.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Darkwood]

The pressure washers motor will have a KW RATING unless this is what you have provided and at 230v a standard 2.2kw motor would require a 40amp type b or c to eliminate nuisance tripping 100% also a 25(d) would do the same job, what is the rating of the motor itself... Note you cant use basic ohms law what converting motor KW ratings into amps.

If its supplied with a 13amp plug top then step will have been taken by the manufacturer to limit the inrush to allow plugging in to a ring main possibly but anything below may trip regardless of type.