All electricity that enters your home goes through your circuit breaker box. The power then splits into individual branch circuits. These circuits are made up of the wires that run through each room or to a certain area, like the garage. A circuit breaker (or fuse) is the device that protects the circuit.
What Appliances Need Dedicated Circuits?
Certain medium-duty and heavy-duty appliances require their own dedicated circuit. Examples include electric ranges and home heating and cooling systems. Without a dedicated circuit, multiple appliances may draw so much current that it causes the wiring to overheat. It might melt the insulation or the outlet itself. The overloaded wiring might cause an electrical fire to start on the wall. Fortunately, circuit breakers sense the flow of excess current, shut off the power (by tripping), and thereby prevent the fire from starting.
Here's a general breakdown of the dedicated circuit sizes needed for most major appliances:
- Small electrical appliances, such as microwaves and dishwashers, can use 15 amp circuits
- Larger items, like hairdryers and toasters, require 20 amps
- The largest appliances, like electric dryers, ovens, water heaters, and furnaces, need 30 to 50 amp circuits
When to Call an Electrician for Dedicated Circuit Installation
If you have a circuit breaker that won’t stay on, you definitely need a professional electrician to check the problem, and you may need a dedicated circuit for that appliance. You might purchase a new appliance and then discover the problem. The garage circuit for your new welder might not be able to handle the load. If you are remodeling your home or business, adding a heavy-duty electrical appliance, or just need more outlets, you may need new dedicated circuits.
Don’t put up with repeated breaker tripping or the risk of an electrical fire. Contact Frye Electric for the dedicated circuits you need in the Indianapolis area.