![]() Since this is under the 2,400-watt limit for a 20-amp breaker, it is the correct size. The total wattage for this circuit is 375 Watts. 60 watts x 6 bulbs = 360 watts + 15 watts from outlet = 375 watts. To get the total wattage of this circuit, add up all the watts together. We’ll use the following example: You have six light bulbs and one outlet on a 120-volt circuit protected by a 20-amp breaker.Įach light bulb is 60 watts, while the outlet is rated at 15 watts. To give you an idea of how to calculate your circuit, let’s do a sample calculation. This will tell you how much electricity the breaker needs to handle and if it can do it. Add up all the watts to get the total wattage of your circuit. Look at labels or the manual of your appliances to find out how many watts they use. To calculate this, you must find out how many watts each device uses. This is because you need to make sure that your breaker can handle the amount of electricity needed for all devices connected to it. It’s important to know the circuit load demand when installing a new breaker. If this happens, you need to switch the breaker to one that can handle more electricity. It could cause the circuit to get too full and start a fire. You should not put more than 2,400 watts of electricity through a 20-amp breaker. This means that a 20-amp breaker can handle up to 2,400 watts of power. ![]() You can figure out how much power a circuit has by multiplying the voltage (in volts) and current (in amps).įor instance, if there is 120 volts with 20 amps, then the total wattage is 2,400 watts. In order to accurately determine how much wattage a 20-amp breaker can accommodate, you must calculate the total wattage or power of the circuit. The answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem. Now that you know about the types of breakers and their usage, let’s dive into how many watts a 20-amp breaker can handle. How Many Watts Can a 20-Amp Breaker Handle? They also come in one- or two-pole varieties with either 15 or 20 amp ratings. GFCI breakers come in different sizes and can be one or two poles with either 15 or 20 amp ratings.ĪFCI breakers help stop arc faults. They stop electrical shocks and fires from happening. They come in amperage ratings of 15 amps up to 200 amps. Double-pole Breakersĭouble-pole breakers require two hot wires and are used for 240-volt circuits. Single-pole breakers come in various amperage ratings from 15 amps up to 50 amps. They have one hot wire and one neutral wire connected to them. Single-pole breakers are the most common and are used for both 120-volt and 240-volt circuits. There are two types of breakers: single-pole and double-pole breakers. This makes sure your home is safe and there won’t be any electrical fires. They help control the electricity and turn it off if too much runs through it. This means we can probably add a few lights to that circuit as well.Breakers are used in the circuit of your home. Let's say this example microwave has a 1000 W 1000 \ \text 15 A. ![]() You can find this information on a label on the back of the appliance. Then, we must find the microwave's power requirement or wattage and its power factor. Assume we do that and realize we have 230 V AC single-phase. Suppose we need to build a dedicated circuit for a microwave, so we need to pair it with an appropriate circuit breaker.įirst, we need to check the current type at home (usually AC single-phase) and its voltage. Let's solve some similar problems with the breaker size calculator. We've seen the example 'How many watts can a 15 amp breaker handle?'.
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