New Electricity Connection.

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brianjackson
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New Electricity Connection.

Postby brianjackson » Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:20 pm

Hi Folks,
My electricity here has been on a private line, switch the kettle on and the microwave and they both slow down to nothing.

I am having a new electricity line put in and they are asking me what power do I want ? They say the neighbours are having 3.45 or 4.6KW.

Obviously this is different to the British way.

How do I work out what i need ?

I dont have air conditioning. Its a 3 bedroom Casa. I have microwave, kettle, fridge freezer, a couple of fans for the summer, and the internet / TV.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Brian.
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

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gerryh
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby gerryh » Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:48 pm

Have a look at your appliances and note down their power rating.
Add up all the power ratings of all the appliances that you think you might need to use at the same time.
Add 50% to the total and, I would suggest, that is what you need to get a contract for.
Cheers
Gerry
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spanish_lad
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby spanish_lad » Tue Apr 02, 2019 1:02 pm

the "smallest" (cheapest) contract that you can have, and bear in mind that it will be a new meter so it WILL trip if you go over it, is 2.2kw - sounds like alot, but a kettle while the microwave is on, and click.. darkness.

the one at 4.65kw is what I would recommend, at the very least.
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

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Enrique
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby Enrique » Tue Apr 02, 2019 1:10 pm

Hi brianjackson,
You don't mention what you cook with...... :?:
Working with Gerry's figures .............4.6kW would be the best bet.
We have 3.3kW and can be marginal if the electric water heat kicks in with dishwasher on.
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

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gerryh
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby gerryh » Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:00 pm

Hi Brian
When you say a "new electricity line" I assume/ hope that the installers are going to install a new cable from the nearest pylon?
Also that the cables supplying the pylon are of sufficient size to supply the full power requirements for you and your neighbours.
When I first moved to where I now live if I was doing any welding then any lights that were on dimmed.
I wanted to upgrade my potencia contact to 8.8 KW but I knew it would be pointless unless I had a new mains cables installed to the nearest pylon and that the cables supplying the pylon where of sufficient size to supply myself and my neighbours.
Cheers
Gerry
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brianjackson
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby brianjackson » Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:16 pm

Thanks all. we are having new concrete pylons, cables, meters, the works.

I found this little gem : https://www.endesaclientes.com/homes/calculator.html

and its in English - hurrah. I put all of my appliances in and it came back with 3.45KW recommended. I went back in and added on air conditioners in 2 rooms, it still came back at 3.45KW

We may, next year add one air conditioner, but it seems 3.45KW is the one to go for.

I dont know why it cant be just like in the UK and pay for what you use ! Interesting that only Sweden charges more for electricity than Spain in the whole EU !

Thanks for the advice tho, its still the best place to come, and people are so nice. Thanks again. (edited due to spelling malfunction between brain and fingers).
I hope for nothing - I fear nothing - I am free.

olive
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby olive » Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:29 pm

A neighbour has a basic electrical connection to his house like yours. Fit for a television and a few lights and has never been upgraded. The price for the upgrade came in at 4000 euros. A suspiciously round figure. However that is to upgrade the single phase bell wire over four pylon spans to the nearest three phase pylon. He declined their kind offer.

Free at Last
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby Free at Last » Tue Apr 02, 2019 3:12 pm

We had 3.45kw potencia in our old house for 12 years and never had a problem with it (used gas for cooking and almost all the heating, but electric water heater (on a timer), fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave, toaster, kettle plus TV and laptops. No aircon. Just don't buy one of the rapid boil kettles as they use at least 3kw by themselves, sometimes more.

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spanish_lad
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby spanish_lad » Sun Apr 28, 2019 4:54 pm

My Parents house has a 2.2.kw supply, they have an electric oven & hob, a+ fridge freezer, new kettle. gas water. then the usual tv, stereo, phone etc.

I only recal it tripping one christmas .. but it was raining.

This is an old townhouse tho. the downstairs is rewired, the upstairs is "old".

I wouldnt recomend it for a new house.

Gerry, when I was working with the electrician in Alhaurin we used to do those sorts of jobs - and we´d have the spanish team in to come and do it - that cable is darn expensive - 20mm2 aluminum 4 core - the bills were reguarly in the thousands.
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

maureenscot
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby maureenscot » Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:32 pm

Do you also have to add your dishwasher, water boiler, electric gadgets, wifi, chargers etc. 4.6 might be better

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knowal
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby knowal » Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:26 am

Perhaps electricity prices and taxes will go down in Spain with the advent of a new socialist government?

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spanish_lad
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Re: New Electricity Connection.

Postby spanish_lad » Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:43 pm

White Horse - the cost of the electric is nothing to do with it - endesa supplies the power afterwards, but the installation is done by independants subbed by endesa.
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.


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