A microwave plugged into a 15-amp circuit could cause the wires in the wall to overheat and present a fire hazard. More likely, however, the microwave will trip the 15-amp breaker and pose a regular nuissance. Note that you should never just replace a 15-amp breaker with a 20-amp breaker.
Can you plug a microwave into a 15 amp circuit?
Reader Question: Many over-range microwaves say they require a dedicated 20-amp branch circuit, but include a plug that can easily be plugged into a 15-amp receptacle. Is it safe to plug the microwave into a 15 amp circuit? — John John, before we answer the question (which is a great one by the way), let’s review receptacle types.
What size circuit do I need for a microwave?
A 15 amp individual branch circuit is fine for a non-continuous load up to 15 amps. True, and it's difficult to imagine anything being cooked for 2-3 HOURS in a microwave.
How many amps does a microwave oven use?
For a microwave oven of that power, you are going to need a 30-amp circuit. A 30-amp circuit can provide 3,600 watts but since you can only use 80% of that power, the maximum output would be 2,880 watts. It is important to have your microwave on its own circuit, no matter how many amps it uses.
Can you run a microwave and refrigerator on the same circuit?
Can you run a microwave and refrigerator on the same circuit? Microwaves and refrigerators are heavy-duty appliances that use large amounts of energy and therefore need to be powered by a dedicated circuit.
Does a microwave need a 15 or 20 amp circuit?
Microwaves require a 20-amp branch circuit due to constant load and spike issues. Under strenuous use, a microwave could draw nearly the maximum 15 amperes of current regularly for hours. Under this maximum load scenario, 14- gauge wiring could heat up beyond safe levels.Apr 21, 2009
How many amps does a 1000 watt microwave use?
Looks like... a typical "1000 watt" microwave will require about 1700 watts of wall power. Dividing by 120 (volts), that would be 14 amps. For such a microwave, you better put in at least a 20 amp circuit. Even with nothing else on the circuit.Dec 13, 2002
Does microwave need 20 amp outlet?
The microwave oven needs a dedicated 20-amp, the 120/125-volt circuit to feed it. This will require 12/2 NM wire with a ground. Microwave ovens come in different varieties and sizes. Some are countertop models, and other microwaves mount above the stove.Sep 12, 2021
What can I run on a 15 amp circuit?
On average, a 15 amp breaker can run a one 1K light each without blowing or about 1800 – 2000 watts. The only issue with relying on this formula is that it is advisable to only load a breaker up to 80 percent of its capacity. Overloading a 15 amp breaker can lead to very dangerous situations.Dec 20, 2019
How many amps should a microwave draw?
A standard 1000-watt microwave draws an estimated 10 amps. Average microwaves range from 600 watts to 1200 watts, employing between 5.4 and 10 amps. The higher the wattage, the more amps the microwave requires. The more amps, the quicker the device will cook your food.Aug 1, 2021
How many amps does a microwave draw?
10 AmpsThe microwave ovens consume power at a rate of 650– 1200 watt, which equates to a current of around 10 Amps.
Does over range microwave need dedicated circuit?
Microwave ovens often demand dedicated circuitry, but this isn't always a necessity. The National Electrical Code requires it for all fixed equipment, so a circuit must be set aside for any built-in oven. Small or older countertop models draw less power than modern full-size units.
Does a kitchen microwave need a dedicated circuit?
Do Microwaves Need A Dedicated Circuit? Microwaves require a dedicated 20A circuit. Apparently, the requirements of a microwave are similar to those of any other heavy-duty appliance such as a refrigerator. You should also include AFCI protection.
Can I use a 20 amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit?
In other words, you can safely use a 20 Amp outlet on a 15 Amp circuit if the appliances attached do not exceed the rating of the 15 amp circuit. If you force the circuit to draw more power than it can handle, the breaker will trip.
How many appliances can run on a 15 amp circuit?
Technically, you can have as many outlets on a 15 amp circuit breaker as you want. However, a good rule of thumb is 1 outlet per 1.5 amps, up to 80% of the capacity of the circuit breaker. Therefore, we would suggest a maximum of 8 outlets for a 15 amp circuit.Jan 12, 2021
Can I run a refrigerator on a 15 amp circuit?
Most refrigerators run between 3 to 6 amps, with that said, a refrigerator can spike at peak usage up to 15 amps. It's best to take into consideration worst case scenarios. You should have refrigerators and freezers installed on a 15-20 amp dedicated 120 volt circuit.Apr 28, 2020
How do you know if a circuit is overloaded?
What are the signs of a circuit overload?Dimming lights.Buzzing outlets or switches.Warm outlets or switch covers.Burning smells from or marks on outlet covers/switches. (This can also be a sign of other serious wiring issues!)Power tools, appliances, or electronics aren't as powerful as they once were.Apr 1, 2020
Why do microwaves need 20 amps?
Microwaves require a 20-amp branch circuit due to constant load and spike issues. Under strenuous use, a microwave could draw nearly the maximum 15 amperes of current regularly for hours. Under this maximum load scenario, 14- gauge wiring could heat up beyond safe levels. Also, high power microwaves can temporarily spike over the 15-ampere limit.
How many amps does an over range microwave need?
Reader Question: Many over-range microwaves say they require a dedicated 20-amp branch circuit, but include a plug that can easily be plugged into a 15-amp receptacle.
What is the standard plug for a microwave?
Microwaves include the standard 15-amp plug because these are the plugs most often found in homes in the U.S. If 20-amp receptacles were common on 20-amp branch circuits in modern homes, high power microwaves would likely sport 20-amp plugs.
What does a 20 amp microwave look like?
A 20-amp receptacle, which is more commonly found in office buildings, looks just like the 15-amp version but has an extra horizontal slot, making the left slot look like a sideways T. (pictures available here from wikipedia) When the microwave says it requires a dedicated 20-amp branch circuit, you would expect it to have a plug ...
What gauge wire is used for a 15 amp circuit?
A 15-amp circuit is usually served by 14 gauge wire, while a 20-amp circuit must be served by12-guage wire. The thicker gauge required by 20-amp circuits ensures the wires do not overheat under a 20-amp load.
What is a 15 amp receptacle?
A standard 15-amp grounded receptacle is the one most of us are used to seeing throughout our house. It has two vertical slots–one slightly larger than the other–and a circular grounding slot at the bottom. A 20-amp receptacle, which is more commonly found in office buildings, looks just like the 15-amp version but has an extra horizontal slot, making the left slot look like a sideways T. (pictures available here from wikipedia)
Can a microwave be plugged into a 15 amp circuit?
More likely, however, the microwave will trip the 15-amp breaker and pose a regular nuissance. Note that you should never just replace a 15-amp breaker with a 20-amp breaker.
How many amps does a microwave use?
A standard 1,000-watt microwave uses 8.3 amp s, but it can use as little as 4.5 watts. Your 700-watt microwave may use only 5.8 amps. It is okay to place most manufactured microwaves on a 20-amp circuit without damaging the unit or circuit.
How to turn on a microwave?
Plugin your microwave oven in an area with a higher amp such as in your garage or workroom. Step Two: Turn it On. Turn on your microwave oven and see what happens. Step Three: If it Trips. If that circuit breaker trips too, it is the microwave malfunctioning, not the circuit breaker.
How long does it take to cook a baked potato in a microwave?
For a better description of how wattage matters, look at the length of time it takes for your microwave oven to cook a baked potato. For example: 500 watts will cook one baked potato in 8:06 minutes. 1,000 watts will cook one baked potato in 4:03 minutes. 1,200 watts will cook one baked potato in 3:10 minutes.
How to test if microwave is faulty?
To test the microwave, take the following steps: Step One: Plug it In. Plugin your microwave oven in an area with a higher amp such as in your garage or workroom.
How to determine wattage of a circuit?
To determine the wattage that can be used for a circuit, you multiply the amps by the volts. If you have a 15-amp circuit on 120 volts, the maximum watts that it can provide is 1,800. And 80% of 1,800 is 1,440. That is not enough to power a 1,000-watt microwave oven.
Why is it important to have a microwave on its own circuit?
That is because the microwave can pull large amounts of amps at times when it first starts or when it changes cycles.
How much power is lost in a microwave?
Input and Output Wattages. There is no electrical device that is 100% efficient so some of the watts are going to get lost in the process. In the case of a microwave oven, much of the input power is lost before it can be converted to microwaves. In fact, just under 60% of that input is wasted.
Is a microwave GFI protected?
This is convenient because the microwave is always directly above the range, and neither outlet needs to be (or should be) GFI protected. Besides, the manufacturer's directions call for a separate 20A circuit, and the NEC has a requirement that manufacturer's directions need to be followed.
Can a microwave be a 15A circuit?
If you had a hardwired microwave circuit, or a dedicated receptacle that wasn't one of the receptacles required by 210.52 (A) or 210.52 (C), then I don't see why it couldn't be a 15A circuit provided it could handle the load.
Circuit Breakers and Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances often have a high power requirement, and sometimes more than can be provided by a single standard home circuit breaker if it’s shared with other appliances or lights in the home.
Standard Breaker Sizes for Microwave Ovens
Most microwaves require a dedicated 20-amp 120/125-volt circuit with a time-delay fuse to feed it power, using a 12/2 NM grounded wire. These are often standard in homes, but you may wish to consult either your utility company or breaker box for this information to confirm- though the latter may not always be possible.
Jed Smith
I'm a musician and recording engineer and live in Queens. I have a cat. Her name is Elsa. I love to write about consumer tech and musical instruments.
Do Microwaves Need A Dedicated Circuit?
Microwaves require a dedicated 20A circuit. Apparently, the requirements of a microwave are similar to those of any other heavy-duty appliance such as a refrigerator. You should also include AFCI protection.
Why Does Microwave Require Dedicated Circuit?
From what Spruce has said, it isn’t enough to place your microwave on a dedicated circuit. You should place the appliance on a 120/125V circuit with 12/2 NM wire. You also need a ground for additional safety. They attribute this requirement to the fact that microwaves are powerful devices that use an estimated 1500 watts.
What Watt Microwave Need a Dedicated Circuit?
You should place every device with a rating of 1,000 watts or more on a dedicated circuit. This is especially true for appliances that you use continuously. Microwaves among the appliances need dedicated circuits.
NEC Code For Microwave Receptacle
NEC doesn’t specifically address microwaves. However, it has regulations and clauses that are expected to influence your decisions. For instance:
Can a Microwave Be Plugged into Any Outlet?
You can plug a microwave into any outlet. The appliance doesn’t require a special receptacle. It doesn’t need GFCI protection either. Though, AFCI protection is recommended. Unless your local codes have made this demand, you can add as many outlets as you want to your microwave’s circuit.
