#Volts amps watts calculator code#

However, the cross-sectional area of a conductor can also be changed to alter theĬonductor's resistance. The length of a conductor is directly proportional to its resistance. The heating of a conductor can be directly attributed from its Wire ampacity is calculated in such a way as to not exceed a certain temperature rise at a particular electrical load. However, many different external factors such as ambient temperature and conductor insulation play a part in determining In order to properly size a wire for your application, the ampacity ratings for a wire must be understood. The ampacity rating of a wire determines the amperage that a wire can safely Amperage is the measure of electricalĬurrent flowing through a circuit. Wire for many different applications can become complex and overwhelming. Wire to prevent overheating, fire and other dangerous conditions.

#Volts amps watts calculator code#

The National Electrical Code provides requirements for sizing electrical Source: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, Table 310.15(B)(16-17) Conductor Sizing Always use the total length of the circuit for calculations.Ĭonsult with an engineer if your application requires more complex calculations. Note: It's recommended to check the ampacity of a wire after doing a voltage drop calculation. It is recommended not to exceed a voltageĭistance - Enter the one-way length of the wires in the circuit in feet. Voltage Drop - Choose the maximum percentage of the source voltage drop. In a cable, burried in the Earth, or in open air. This is typically in a raceway (cable-tray or conduit), Installation - Choose the installation method for the circuit. Common conductors are copper and aluminum. Insulation - Select the thermal rating of the insulation on the wire.Ĭonductor - Choose the material used as a conductor in the wire. To calculate ground wire size, use the Ground Wire Size Calculator. For three-phase circuits, four wires are required. Single-phase circuits, three wires are required. This is typically single-phase or three-phase. Phases - Select the number of phases in the circuit. To multiply the nameplate FLA by 1.25 for wire sizing. While three-phase voltages are typically 208V, 230V or 480V.Īmperes - Enter the maximum current in amps that will flow through the circuit. Single-phase voltages are usually 115V or 120V, If the microwave oven has used an average of a half hour each day, the average amount of energy it uses per day isĦ00 watts x 0.Voltage - Enter the voltage at the source of the circuit.

Using the information on the microwave label, the wattage is equal to Voltage x Current = Wattage. If the voltage and current are listed on an appliance but the wattage is not, the wattage can be calculated by multiplying the voltage by the current. The wattage of the microwave is 600 watts. The 60 HZ number means that the current alternates at a rate of 60 times per second. The information on the label tells us that the microwave oven needs 120 volts of electricity in the form of alternating current (AC) to operate and draws 5 amps (amperes) of current during its use. For example, a label on a microwave oven may look like this: Wattage and other electrical information is often listed directly on the appliance or equipment. The relationship between the wattage, time of use, and the energy used by an appliance or piece of equipment can be expressed by this formula: Wattage (Power) x Time = Energy Useīy using this formula, we can compare the energy used by electrical appliances and equipment to see which ones use the most electricity. For instance, a 1,200-watt microwave used for only 30 seconds uses less energy than a 600-watt microwave does in one-half hour. However, an appliance with a higher wattage will not use much energy if it is used for only a few seconds, whereas an appliance with a lower wattage may use a lot of energy if it is used for a number of hours. For example, a 1,200-watt microwave oven uses twice as much electrical energy and produces twice as much heat in one minute as a 600-watt microwave oven. The higher the wattage, the greater the amount of electrical energy that an electrical appliance or piece of equipment uses over a period of time. Electrical power is usually measured in watts hence, electrical power is often referred to as wattage. Power is the rate at which energy is used, or work is done per unit of time. Power and time of use are the factors that determine how much energy is used by an electrical appliance or piece of equipment.