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Maximum Draw on a Household Circuit?

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Maximum Draw on a Household Circuit? Marc Miller 07-23-2005
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Posted by Marc Miller on July 23, 2005, 11:15 pm


I'm no electrician so I thought I would post a question. What's the maximum
draw
that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex (Does that mean all
equipment connected cannot exceed 15amps on this one circuit?). I put two
duplex outlets
together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the wire
was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet. Just
curious as I don't want to get in trouble.

You hear about people starting fires by connecting too many appliances to
one outlet. I don't think I have that problem but want to make sure. The
only things connected in the basement are low draw appliances (high speed
modem, two routers and an ac adapter to charge the house alarm battery).
Thanks...




Posted by Fred on July 23, 2005, 8:45 pm



> I'm no electrician so I thought I would post a question. What's the
> maximum
> draw
> that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
> panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
> light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex (Does that mean all
> equipment connected cannot exceed 15amps on this one circuit?).

You can draw 80% for continuous load. For example on a 15A breaker your load
should not exceed 12A.


I put two
> duplex outlets
> together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the
> wire
> was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet.
> Just
> curious as I don't want to get in trouble.
>

Its better to have the light on one circuit and the receptacles (GFCI in
garage) on another but I guess you could mix it up if you have to.

> You hear about people starting fires by connecting too many appliances to
> one outlet. I don't think I have that problem but want to make sure. The
> only things connected in the basement are low draw appliances (high speed
> modem, two routers and an ac adapter to charge the house alarm battery).
> Thanks...
>
>




Posted by CL (dnoyeB) Gilbert on July 24, 2005, 1:38 am


Marc Miller wrote:
> I'm no electrician so I thought I would post a question. What's the maximum
> draw
> that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
> panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
> light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex (Does that mean all
> equipment connected cannot exceed 15amps on this one circuit?). I put two
> duplex outlets
> together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the wire
> was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet. Just
> curious as I don't want to get in trouble.
>
> You hear about people starting fires by connecting too many appliances to
> one outlet. I don't think I have that problem but want to make sure. The
> only things connected in the basement are low draw appliances (high speed
> modem, two routers and an ac adapter to charge the house alarm battery).
> Thanks...
>
>

circuit breakers protect the wiring only. they do not protect the
equipment plugged into the outlet, and they do not protect you from
being shocked.

If you exceed the rating of the wire and the proper breaker is attached
the breaker will trip. no worries.

fires are started from cheap multi-plug expander devices which are not
rated for the current. Normal household plugs should be rated to match
the wire which matches the circuitbreaker which prevents the fire.

--
Respectfully,


CL Gilbert



Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on July 24, 2005, 3:30 am



> I'm no electrician so I thought I would post a question. What's the
> maximum
> draw
> that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
> panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
> light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex (Does that mean all
> equipment connected cannot exceed 15amps on this one circuit?). I put two
> duplex outlets
> together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the
> wire
> was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet.
> Just
> curious as I don't want to get in trouble.

You can get in trouble.

You can run up to 12 amps (80%) on a 15a circuit. Yes, you can have more
than one item connected, but you cannot use them all at the same time if
they exceed the total allowed. That should also trip the breaker.

Now that you have a 200A panel, why would you run the circuit the way you
did? You have three outlets and the garage light on one circuit. You are
in the garage using the circular saw with the light on. Your wife decides
she want to iron a curtain and plugs in the iron. The breaker trips and you
are standing in the dark with saw in one hand and a board ready to fall
apart in the other.

I'm not a licensed electrician but I do have some commons sense about
circuits. I don't want my lights going out when I trip a breaker with a tool
or appliance. The setup you have is only done by hacks, cheap SOBs or those
to lazy to run separate circuits. Don't allow yourself to fall in those
categories.




Posted by Ralph Mowery on July 24, 2005, 3:34 am



> I'm no electrician so I thought I would post a question. What's the
maximum
> draw
> that can be connected to a standard household circuit? I have a 200amp
> panel and just installed a circuit with numerous outlets and a fluorescent
> light fixture on a 15amp breaker with 12/2 Romex (Does that mean all
> equipment connected cannot exceed 15amps on this one circuit?). I put two
> duplex outlets
> together so I would have four connections in the basement, and then the
wire
> was run to the garage to power the light as well as one duplex outlet.
Just
> curious as I don't want to get in trouble.
>
> You hear about people starting fires by connecting too many appliances to
> one outlet. I don't think I have that problem but want to make sure. The
> only things connected in the basement are low draw appliances (high speed
> modem, two routers and an ac adapter to charge the house alarm battery).
> Thanks...
>
The # 12 wire is good for 20 amps but the breaker you installed is only good
for 15 amps. That means the breaker will trip way before the limit of the
wire is exceeded. The light will use on eor two amps. This leaves 13 or
14 amps for the outlets. Nomater how many outlets you have the total will
add and the current of all the outlets on the circuit and the light can not
be more than the 15 amps the breaker is rated for .





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