1. What is an Electrical House Load Calculation?

Definition: This calculator estimates the total electrical load of a house by summing the power consumption of individual appliances and converting to kilowatts.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and electricians determine the total power requirements for proper electrical system sizing.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{kW} \) — Total power in kilowatts (kW)
• \( P_{load} \) — Power of individual appliances in watts

Explanation: The calculator sums the wattage of all appliances and converts the total to kilowatts by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of Electrical Load Calculation

Details: Proper load calculation ensures your electrical system can handle all connected devices safely without overloading circuits.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wattage of up to 3 appliances. For more appliances, simply add their wattage to one of the fields. All values must be ≥ 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical household electrical load?
A: Most homes have between 3-8 kW of base load, with peaks up to 15-20 kW when major appliances run simultaneously.

Q2: How do I find an appliance's wattage?
A: Check the manufacturer's label or specifications. For devices showing amps, multiply amps by voltage (e.g., 120V in US).

Q3: Should I include all appliances?
A: Focus on major appliances (AC, heaters, refrigerators) and frequently used devices. Small electronics contribute little to total load.

Q4: What about devices that cycle on/off?
A: Use the rated wattage, as the electrical system must handle peak loads when everything runs simultaneously.

Q5: How does this relate to service panel capacity?
A: Compare your total kW to your panel's capacity (typically 100-200 amps, or 24-48 kW at 240V).