Would plugging in a space heater directly into the wall rather than into an extension cord limit power outages

Question

The power keeps going out in certain parts of my apartment and we keep on having to go to the circuit box. I'm trying to understand why we keep experiencing these power outages and what we can do about it.

Answer 1

The wall receptacle itself has a limit depending how new the wiring is.
1- If you have to go to the panel, notice what the amperage is on the fuse or breaker. 15 Amps if you have a 120 VAC system,
the heater should be no more than 1500 Watts (see ID plate on the heater).
2- If it is 20 Amps, then 2000 Watts is the limit.
3- If your voltage is 220/240, then 3300 watts and 4800 watts.
Now if there are more circuits in the same line as the one for your heater, their wattage has to be added (watts) as well.
Now as for the extension cord, it has to be capable of handling the current for the heater. If it is a small wire it can get hot or warm and can blow the fuse or breaker. It should be the same size as the power cord on the heater. It can be rated in Amps or watts or both. Make sure they match.
Plugging the heater directly into the wall receptacle is best.
If you have a receptacle that doesn't share its load with any other receptacles, that's best. (like an air conditioner plug, kitchen receptacle, refrigerator, etc).
If not, then a heavy duty extension cord to a 20 amp receptacle.

Good Luck! !

Answer 2

You should map out what circuit breakers go to which lights/appliances/outlets. To test outlets, just turn off a circuit, and use either a plug in circuit tester or even simpler, a night light, to see which outlets have been disconnected.

Now you will have like 5-8 outlets that you know are connected to a certain breaker. And on ALL those outlets, you can only connect 15 or 20 amps of stuff to them (depending on breaker size).

Turn each breaker off and see what turns off in your apartment. (much easier than if you had a whole house) Once you know which outlets correspond to which circuits, plug the space heater into an outlet the circuit which has the least amount of stuff connected to it (Keep it off the circuit that has your computer and monitor). A typical problem is you are using the same circuit as your hair dryer and every time you dry your hair you blow the circuit. (could be toaster oven, dishwasher, etc.)

Check out the tutorial. I recommend not getting the circuit tester shown in the video(the one where you jam the leads in the outlet), but instead get the tester that has a standard looking 3-prong plug on one end, because it is safer.

Answer 3

The space heater is probably being plugged into a circuit that is already being used. That is causing an over-load on the circuit breaker. Try plugging it into a different outlet. The length of the cord should not effect it,,,but a short cord or no extension cord would be best.

Answer 4

The circuit you're plugging into isn't rated to carry the heater load, and whatever else is operating on that circuit. The heater should have a label telling you the current draw in AMPS. Typical modern wiring allows for 15 AMP load on a simple circuit I wouldn't use an extension cord with a high heating load......the wire would have to be heavier than your standard extension cord. You may have to experiment with different receptacles s to find which one will accept the load. If the heater load exceeds the fuse or breaker rating (it will be on either device)....you CAN NOT use that heater
Good luck.and be safe

Answer 5

most space heaters draw 1500Watts/12.5 Amps
Most household extension cords are rated at 13amps.
you are drawing to much current on a small cord, which could cause overheating problems in the cord.
tripping the breaker means that you are drawing too many amps on the WHOLE circuit. whatever is plugged into the same circuit as the heater is drawing too many amps. most circuits are 15-20 amps. you heater is drawing 12.5 amps. if you have a tv, lamp, microwave, etc, on the same circuit, you are trying to do too much on one circuit. plug the heater into a seperate circuit, and you should be okay. you may want to buy a heavier cord.
most electrical device list the amps on the back of the unit. add up whatever turns off when the circuit breaks. the total amps of everything that was on MUST be LESS than the little number on the breaker that was turned off. if you are trying to power 18amps on a 15amp circuit, you are going to have a problem.

Answer 6

You could do it but it would take a heavy duty cord. They are sized by Gage. A 14 gauge is rated for just over 1500 watts. Never plug it into a regular household extension cord or a power strip, neither are rated for that. It would be best not to use one but if you absolutly have to at least use the right one.

Answer 7

You are blowing the circut braker because there are too many items using power, at the same time, on that circut.

You can plug the heater into another outlet on another circut usng a haevy duty extention cord as long as the extention cord is rated to handle the wattage load as listed on the space heater.

Extention cords wire sizes gauge 12 should be adaquate.

Answer 8

Try using a 12 gauge cord and you will stop tripping breakers. You really shouldn't use extension cords with space heaters. Youy should just plug it into the wall receptacle on a designated breaker. Good Luck.

Answer 9

a extension cable looses power to the appliance this is why it takes more power from your circuit tripping the fuses,
Plug it in to a wall socket and turn it down also if its on a thermostat and it keeps coming on and of this will trip your switches.Also turn every thing of you don't need on.