On standard 110/115 volt outlets in my house, how many watts can they handle before a fuse has a chance of blowing?(Or a breaker gets tripped?) 1000 watts? 3000 watts? 5000 watts? Or is it a variable number?
What's the avarage watt capability of circuits?
2006-07-16 12:36:03 · 7 answers · asked by I like horses 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You've been asking several motor and electrical questions. Is there something you are trying to do?
Others have said some basics, but I'll elaborate a bit. The circuit breaker or fuse trips based on current, and watts is power. For some things, it is valid to divide watts by volts and get amps. For motors and other inductive loads, this will give a current value that is too small. Those devices probably have a current (amp) rating marked on them anyway.
So how much current will trip a 15A breaker. It is not as simple as saying 15A. Another answer mentioned 80% rating for continuous loads, which is 3 hours (not 8). So a 15A breaker COULD trip on 12A (80%) after 3 hours, but it doesn't have to. At the other end, a 25% over might never trip. The 15A rating does not mean it will trip at that point only.
Household circuits are either 15 or 20A, and those are the only ratings that are allowed to have normal receptacles.
2006-07-17 08:46:07 · answer #1 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Watts=amperage x volts
So it depends on the rating of the circuit. For example, 110V 15 amp circuit can handle 1650 watts.
Of course, that means you have to have the 15 amp breaker and the correct size wiring for the circuit.
2006-07-16 12:47:11 · answer #2 · answered by robling_dwrdesign 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember that breakers rating (interrupting capacity) are in amperes not in watts. Any appliances connected continuously more than 8 hours to the same circuit breaker shall not exceed 80% current breaker capacity.
2006-07-16 15:04:47 · answer #3 · answered by Handyman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to code the circuit must not be over 80%. a 15amp circuit at 110 volts would only allow for 1320 watts by NEC. i prefer 70% myself
2006-07-16 12:56:23 · answer #4 · answered by jason 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Standard residential line is 15 amps (14 AWG romex). 110 V * 15 A = 1650 W.
2006-07-16 12:47:22 · answer #5 · answered by Nerdly Stud 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Voltage by the Amperage to determine the wattage: Volts x Amps = Watts (i.e.: 120V x 6A = 720 Watts).
http://www.maintenanceresources.com/ReferenceLibrary/ezine/eleccircbreak2.html
CIRCUIT BREAKER VOLTAGE RATINGS.....read that part for an answer on above link.......but read the whole link.....
2006-07-16 12:52:35 · answer #6 · answered by Jedi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
watts divided by (voltage x power factor)= amps
power factor is common to 0.86
2006-07-16 12:52:55 · answer #7 · answered by StayBeZe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋