Watt's Too Much? How Much You Can You Plug Into One Outlet

Living in a space with a limited number of outlets can force you to make some difficult choices. You might need to have the hairdryer plugged in, but you also need the electric razor, iron and space heater going, too. With just two receptacles to plug something into, you’ll have to decide which devices are the most important. Or, could you create a workaround with a surge protector or two?Get more news about Overload Protection Socket,you can vist our website!

An overloaded outlet places you at greater risk of a house fire, so knowing the safety principles behind maximum wattage capacities is important. The question remains: How many things can you plug into one outlet? We’ve got your answer below.

How Much Can a Single Outlet Handle?
How much you can plug into a single outlet depends on the circuit's capacity and how many outlets get their supply from the circuit. Unless you know the capacity of your home's circuits, it's safest to either assume that you have 15-amp circuits. Otherwise, you can call an electrician to check.

If you have an older home, the chances are that its electrical system wasn't designed to cope with the demands of multiple power-hungry modern appliances. In newer homes, electricians often install 20-amp circuits or higher to allow homeowners to add more appliances in the future without risking an overloaded outlet.
How Do You Know How Many Things You Can Plug Into One Outlet?
As a rule of thumb, it's safest to stick to a maximum load of 1,500 watts per outlet or circuit. The number of things you can plug into one outlet depends on the wattage of each device or appliance you want to plug in. You can determine the wattage by checking the plug label or manufacturer's instructions to calculate the total combined wattage per outlet.

Large appliances such as dishwashers, air conditioners and ovens typically exceed 1,000 watts on their own. Therefore, these appliances should have their own dedicated circuit, and you should avoid plugging anything else into the same outlet.
However, if your home's circuits have a higher amperage, The Spruce says you can use a straightforward principle called Ohm's Law to calculate their capacity. You'll need to know the amperage and voltage of your circuit to use Ohm's Law to figure out how much it can handle.