Can we use in-home electric appliance which power over 1700W in the USA ?

Question

when we use appliances whose power is higher that 1700W , do we need a special power supply connexion? It seems that there are not many this kind of special power points in a normal building or house ? Is that true ?

Answer 1

In the USA, 120 volt circuits are rated 15 or 20 amps. Unless there is only one receptacle on the circuit, any one item of plug and cord connected equipment is not supposed to exceed 80% of the circuit rating or 12 amps, 1440 watts for a 15 amp circuit and 16 amps, 1920 watts for a 20 amp circuit. If there is only one receptacle on a circuit, the full 15 or 20 amps can be used for 1800 or 2400 watts. In kitchen, dining and bathrooms, 20 amp circuits are required. In other areas, 15 amp circuits are allowed.

Except in the case where there is only one recepticle on a 20 amp circuit, the receptacles don't need to be rated for 20 amps. Equipment rated more than 12 amps may have a 20 amp plug that won't fit in a 15 amp receptacle because one prong is sideways. Receptacles rated 20 amps have one "T" shaped slot so that either a 15 amp or 20 amp plug will fit. If you have a circuit that has a 20 amp circuit breaker, it should be a 20 amp circuit and any 15 amp receptacle can be replaced by a 20 amp receptacle.

In dwelling units, 30, 40 and 50 amp circuits are ordinarily used only for 240 volt loads like clothes dryers, cooking ranges, water heaters, air conditioners and electric heating equipment.

Answer 2

In a normal house, the 120 volt power receptacles are rated for 120V at 15 Amps, which is 1800 Watts. A 1700 Watt appliance will work, but it must be the only thing plugged into the outlet.

In some cases there may be 20 Amp outlets available.

I am not sure what kind of plug you have on your appliance, so I don't know if you need an adapter, or not.

Answer 3

yes you can, usually at 110 volts the breaker should be not less than 20 amps and at 220 volts 1700 watts only need a circuit protection of 15 amps. electric range is one example of a load more than 1700 watts, and a common protection of 40 amps, with a plug receptacle rating of 50 amps.