Electrical Question

"Steve Sells" wrote in message
ink.net...
you forgot the 80% rating of max load as per NEC.

That's why he has .8 or 80% in the calculation.

IF you are running a circuit at 100%, its asking for trouble. As an
Electrician we NEVER allow a 20A to get over 1800, and as you said 1600
is
normal. 1200 for 15a.

The simple and extra safe way is to calculate amps x 100 volts for a 120
service.
This gives you 1000 watts for a 15 amp circuit.
The same calculation gives you 2000 watts max for a 20 amp run.

Why do you say that you never want it to go over 1800? That's only 75%. If
you have the proper gge wire and receptacles, what's the problem?



Steve


"J Codling" wrote in message
ink.net...
If you have a 20A circuit with #12 wire with only these receptacles
connected to it you are allowed:

.8*20*120 watts on that circuit = 1920W

If you have #14 wire then you are allowed .8*15*120 watts = 1440W

Too be conservative maybe use 1500W PER CIRCUIT for 20A and 1200W PER
CIRCUIT for 15A. That isn't per plug, but per circuit. So you need to
verify how the receptacles are wired. Make sure they aren't connected
together on the same breaker by turning off the breaker and make sure
those
are the only receptacles that are turned off. . THat's easy to check
and
then make sure nothing else is connected to those circuits, otherwise
that
takes away from your 1500W. Hope that helps..

Jim




"Richard Reynolds" wrote in message
news:ImNec.83$fq4.67@lakeread05...
what size breaker is your setup on now?
how many other outlets are on it?
whats the wire size for the run?
if you endup running a larger run (probilby not) its gona be
cheaper/easier/more
upgradeable to run a heavy guage high amp circuit between the main
breaker
and a new
junction box near the tank. regardless the junction box can be good
for
giving extra
outlets which IME you always need more of. more so if you use things
that
run off of plug
in power transformers which seem to take up 3 outlets.

dont just go to a higher amp breaker the wires should be large enough
to
handle the load.

--
Richard Reynolds