Comments on: General Power Understanding http://www.gracepointresources.org/2010/01/general-power-understanding/ tutorials, files & more from Gracepoint Ministries Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: Conrad Chu http://www.gracepointresources.org/2010/01/general-power-understanding/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Conrad Chu Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:04:29 +0000 http://www.gracepointresources.org/?p=92#comment-17 One way easy way to calculate amps is actually to just divide your watts by 100. So, say you have 1600 watts of lights. Divide by 100. 1600W / 100V = 16 A You'll need 16 amps on the circuit to handle it. Generally speaking, dividing by 110V would have yielded 14.5 amps. However, by dividing by 100, not only is it easier, but the resulting figure is what they call a "safety amp." Meaning, you have a built-in buffer so that for any given circuit you don't have to worry about running up the upper limit of the circuit. For example, if you have a 20A circuit, you NEVER want to run exactly 20A worth of lights on it. Depending on the age of the building, wires within the wall will heat up very quickly, and you'll risk setting a fire within the walls. So divide by 100 and you'll be safe. One way easy way to calculate amps is actually to just divide your watts by 100.

So, say you have 1600 watts of lights. Divide by 100.

1600W / 100V = 16 A

You’ll need 16 amps on the circuit to handle it.

Generally speaking, dividing by 110V would have yielded 14.5 amps. However, by dividing by 100, not only is it easier, but the resulting figure is what they call a “safety amp.” Meaning, you have a built-in buffer so that for any given circuit you don’t have to worry about running up the upper limit of the circuit. For example, if you have a 20A circuit, you NEVER want to run exactly 20A worth of lights on it. Depending on the age of the building, wires within the wall will heat up very quickly, and you’ll risk setting a fire within the walls.

So divide by 100 and you’ll be safe.

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