Appliance amperage December 01, 2017, 01:25:12 pm Does anyone know what the amperages are of the appliances used in the LD? I would like to add an electrical plug ( 30 amp, 115 w) to be used by the LD. I don't want to add a new 30 amp breaker and dedicated service. I want to run a #10 wire to a 30amp plug from my garage to a convenient location that I can use for the LD. The existing service that I will be drawing from is also #10 copper wire but 110 w. If I know the amperages of the appliances, and I Use less than 20 amps I should be able to make things work without tripping a breaker, right? I'm pretty sure if I used the air conditioner and the microwave it would trip. But, how about other combinations? Am I correct in thinking that #10 wiring would be sufficient?Dale from Downey.
Re: Appliance amperage Reply #1 – December 01, 2017, 03:16:02 pm Dale, the question can be complicated by issues such as length of run, but in general, #10 wiring can accommodate up to 30 amps of load. #12 wiring can accommodate up to 20 amps, and #14 is limited to 15 amps. It is vital for safety that the breaker used be of a value equal or less than the wiring capacity to protect the wire from overheating.While a circuit may be able to handle the loads you plan to have, you are modifying wiring in your home, if I understand your post. Building codes may have a lot to say about adding a 30 amp socket to an existing line. Quite often, such require a dedicated breaker to comply with building codes. Were something to happen to your home, and an insurance investigator finds improper wiring, they might refuse coverage.Ken F in NM 1 Likes
Re: Appliance amperage Reply #2 – December 01, 2017, 04:04:08 pm Dale,To determine the amperage of an appliance, the wattage is divided by the supply voltage. For example, the auxiliary heat strip in my coach air conditioner is 1500 watts. If 120 volts AC is the measured supply voltage, then 1500\120 = 12.5 amps. If 110 volts AC is the measured supply voltage, then 1500\110 = 13.6 amps. 2 Likes
Re: Appliance amperage Reply #3 – December 01, 2017, 05:19:59 pm You will be able to run the ac on 20amp service. It uses about 17amps. Doubtful about using the microwave at the same time.Ken's concerns are valid. But he is an engineer, you know belt and suspenders type. You could do the work and then have an electrician inspect your work. There would be no warranty, but you could sleep soundly. 2 Likes
Re: Appliance amperage Reply #4 – December 01, 2017, 06:24:25 pm Hi Dale.Your motor home is wired for 30 Amps. 115 VAC is essentially the same as 110 VAC. By turning everything on at once you might be able to draw more than that but your circuit breakers in the motor home should prevent that from happening. My garage was prewired for an electric clothes dryer. 30 Amps at 220v. I wired a simple adaptor from a dryer pigtail into a box with an RV 30A 115v. connector. Tough to find one of those at Home Despot. Works for me, and yes I can run the Air Conditioner (13,500 BtuH) and the microwave at the same time. The bigger capacity 15,000 BtuH might not run, and I think newer motor homes have higher powered (so called 'Inverter') micro wave ovens. I've been assured by electrician friends of mine, that should I reach 30 Amps on the half of the circuit I use, that one side of the breaker will shut off both halves of the installed breaker in my panel. I have a really short run from the MH stored in my driveway, 3" from the wall, to the outlet in my garage, about 10 feet away. Not having current flowing through the other hot lead, and only the rated 30 Amp at max through the neutral helps. If you are planning on adding a 30 Amp single phase breaker ( 110 VAC ) from your electrical panel to a plug for the motorhome, It's always a good idea to run the next bigger wires than what is required. A #8 pair in this case. A lot depends on the run distance, the age of your box and house service. Make sure you do it to code. If you have an electrician do it make sure they DON'T wire it for 220 VAC. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Appliance amperage Reply #5 – December 03, 2017, 01:43:43 pm Don't forget to account for the converter and the fridge kicking in when you least expect it. One or the other tripped my 30A breaker while I had my refrigerator and microwave running at the same time, so the new rule is A/C off while using the microwave. The 20A circuit at my previous residence wouldn't even handle the 15K A/C unit, possibly for the same reason.Also, don't we need to consider power factor for these inductive loads?Steve 1 Likes
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Topic: Appliance amperage (Read 197 times)
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