ELECTRICAL

Terms

¨       Amp (A)

¨       Circuit breaker

¨       Circuit

¨       Volt (V)

Typical circuit plan:

A well-planned electrical system will have branch circuits that serve easily defined areas or purposes. Unfortunately, many homes--especially if they have been remodeled by do-it-yourselfers--have circuits that roam all over the house. Note that some appliances, such as the microwave oven, dishwasher, and disposal, have their own circuits. The electric stove has its own 240-volt circuit. Otherwise, circuits are roughly organized by the rooms they serve and their anticipated demand.

Overload Circuits:

To find out if a circuit is overloaded, add up the total power drawn by the circuit as outlined below. Check the breaker or fuse to see how many amps the circuit can deliver. If your total use exceeds the amperage the circuit can supply, change your usage. The solution may be as simple as plugging an appliance into a different receptacle -- or you may have to add another circuit to your electrical system.