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Aeronoob
I need advaice of an electrician, how many watts can be run per outlet safley? I know 1000 watts is pushing the envelope on a standard 120volt outlet.
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rick shaw
Electrical power is measured in amps.Now your question is how many amps can I safely and continuously use. You can use 80% of of the power you have available. A 15 amp circuit allows 13 amps to be safely used. A 20 amp gives you 16 amps.To determine amperage divide watts/volts. A 1000 watt on a 120 volt line use's 8.3 amps leaving 4.7 amps for fans,pumps.I would recommend getting a basic electrical book. Gook luck
raphenilweed
Member
It is more dependent on the circuits breaker, wire then outlet. Most outlets can hold 15 amps. They make 20 amp plugs but would make sense with at least a 20amp breaker.
1000watts is *edit- exactly 8.3333333333333333333333333333...* amps on a 120volt circuit.
1000watts is *edit- exactly 8.3333333333333333333333333333...* amps on a 120volt circuit.
Pompey_Monkey
Member
Electric power is measured in Watts.
Electric current is measured in Amperes.
I would recommend getting a basic electrical book.
Sorry rick shaw I just couldn't resist! Otherwise your calculations are good.
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rick shaw
I am not a master electrician,I pay one on TV
Fire On High
Member
Does it just say on the breaker? I live in an oldddd house. I run everything in my room on the same outlet. I'm hoping I'll be safe with 400 watts (lights fans etc) and a gaming computer on one outlet.
If you over do it, will it just flip the breaker or actually cause problems?
If you over do it, will it just flip the breaker or actually cause problems?
SuperHemp
Member
The breaker is supposed to cut the power in case of an overload before anything dangerous happens. Your receptables are rated at 15 amps and the breaker powering the receptable is likely also 15 amps, but if you pull the full 15A load from the receptable the power will only last an hour before the breaker cuts it due to overload.
This is where the 80% rule comes into play, using 80% of rated breaker power you can run continuously without the breaker cutting off power.
So on a 15A breaker, you can run 15A * 0.8 = 12A of current continuously. This gives 12A * 120 V = 1440 watts.
This is where the 80% rule comes into play, using 80% of rated breaker power you can run continuously without the breaker cutting off power.
So on a 15A breaker, you can run 15A * 0.8 = 12A of current continuously. This gives 12A * 120 V = 1440 watts.
Fire On High
Member
Cool. If its not 15, because the house is old, what do you think it'd be? Like what would the old standard have been? in maybe 1930.
SuperHemp
Member
There are no breakers in an electrical panel from 1930, only fuses. Your panel has been upgraded sometime if you have breakers, there should be a label on the breaker indicating the capacity of the circuit.
I'm not an American electrician, and really only have good insight on European norms and standards throughout history, but i would guess it's possible the breaker/fuse is 10 amps.
In europe, for example, the 80% rule does not apply, as breakers are rated at their continuous operating capacity, and max short-term (1 hour) capacity is 15% higher than rated. So on an european 16 amp breaker, you can run a full 3600 watts all the time without the power cutting, and you can run 4232 watts for an hour before the breaker triggers.
I'm not an American electrician, and really only have good insight on European norms and standards throughout history, but i would guess it's possible the breaker/fuse is 10 amps.
In europe, for example, the 80% rule does not apply, as breakers are rated at their continuous operating capacity, and max short-term (1 hour) capacity is 15% higher than rated. So on an european 16 amp breaker, you can run a full 3600 watts all the time without the power cutting, and you can run 4232 watts for an hour before the breaker triggers.
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Aeronoob
thanks guys. The timer is always the weak point. shit melts on a thousand watts. no timers are rated safley for 1000 watts, they all use small gauge wire which will not hold the load.
