How many kilowatts does a common electrical outlet require?

Question

This is for a 200 amp electric panel schematic schedule

Answer 1

NEC section 220-3.c.6 states that every duplex outlet must be treated as 1.5 amps of load when sizing the electrical service.

For commercial wiring, this is why the electrician can only wire ten duplex outlets to a 15-amp breaker and thirteen on a 20-amp breaker.


Section 210-21(b)(2) states that a cord-and-plug connected load in excess of 12 amperes shall not be connected to a 15-ampere receptacle on a branch circuit supplying two or more receptacles. There are some exceptions for short duration applicances such as hair dryers, toasters and microwave ovens.

12 amps x 120 volts = 1440 watts or 1.44 kW

Note: For the purposes of this question, the concept of power factor has been ignored.


For the record, 14 gauge copper wiring is suitable for a 15-amp breaker. 12 gauge copper wiring is suitable for a 20-amp breaker. Some electricians choose to use 12 gauge wire on 15-amp circuits. This is acceptable, but does increase the material costs.

Answer 2

The wording of your question is a bit strange. An electrical outlet doesn't 'require' any wattage. The device you plug into it does. I think what you are asking is, how many kwatts can and outlet handle? The answer is 1.8kw.
The math is simple.
Power (Watts) = Voltage times Amps
So, 120 Volts X 15 Amps = 1800 Watts
This is why you're girlfriend always blows the bathroom circuit breaker when she's blow drying her using a 1875 watt hair drier with the lights on and the music blasting.

Answer 3

The NEC (National Electrical Code) requires that each output be fuzed at a level that the breaker can handle by the size of the wire used to wire the outlet.

It depends, but 12ga wire is generally fuzed at 15 amps. This is to prevent the wire from overheating, melting its insulation, and shorting to the conduit, or building internals.

You wire NOT on kilowatts, but on current load vs sire size. I realize that it all comes down to kilowatts, but an electrician is going to put a 15 amp breaker on every branch circuit in the house, and wire it with 12ga solid copper wire. But THEN there is wiring for the stove, and electric dryer, etc., but that is NOT a "common" electrical outlet, is it?

Ron.

Answer 4

Common 120 VAC outlets are typically rated for 15 Amps, but that's not to say you can't have multiple outlets on a 15 or 20 Amp breaker, because the 'odds' of having several 15 Amp loads simultaneously on the same breaker are 'low'.

.

Answer 5

A typical out let at 120volts is usually rated at 15 amps. 120 x 15 is 1800 WATS. So typically the outlet would be rated at 1.8 Kw

Answer 6

Duplex Receptacle

Answer 7

2500 w (?)