Adding Appliance Circuits
Friday, May 9, 2014
Amperes, volts, power, circuits – all these terms, although used commonly in magazines and newspapers and even on online sites when talk of appliances are involved, are still not yet fully understood by many. There is really no need to delve into the technical definitions of these terms. Anyway, for the homeowner who purchases appliances or intends to do so, it is important to know the power consumption of the unit. This is to be able to provide the necessary appliance circuits needed for the machine to operate.
The reason behind having dedicated circuits for appliances is safety and efficiency. To avoid overloading a circuit if two or more appliances that have a high demand for power are plugged into it, each one is given its own circuit. This will also provide uninterrupted power to the appliance which will ensure its proper operation.
Another advantage of having appliance circuits is that there is less strain put on electrical equipment, for instance on wires and breakers, since a circuit is used only for a specific appliance. More circuits also enable the house to have overlapping circuits, so if a certain circuit breaks, the entire house does not go without power or light. Finally, knowing that your home’s electrical wiring adheres to the regulations set up for the installation and use of electrical equipment, you will have peace of mind about your home’s electrical soundness.
Examples of appliances that demand their own circuit are air conditioners, refrigerators, and electric ranges. Operation is critical to these appliances and their power consumption is high. In any new construction, electricians actually set aside a circuit for these appliances. On existing homes that will add a new appliance, the addition of one of these dedicated circuits is needed to be installed before the appliance is actually used.
Installing appliance circuits is not a task for the homeowner to do. Because of local codes regarding the installation of circuits and their purpose, electricians are the professionals that are licensed to install these circuits. Electricity is a dangerous resource if incorrectly handled so it is best left to professionals to tackle this task. It is never recommended to do it on your own.
A local contractor should be handy to provide the service for installation of electrical circuits. Just be certain that a licensed electrician is the one you hire so you are assured of the job done correctly. Your trusted electrician should always be within reach.
