From: caveat-lector@cox.net   
      
   "NotSparky"  wrote in message   
   news:120420082251561044%NotSparky@Home.Edu...   
   > Hello and thanks for taking the time,   
   >   
   > All my floor lamps carry a warning not to exceed 300 watts.  If I have   
   > 2 or 3 or 4 lamps in the same multiplug, am I abusing the circuit it's   
   > plugged into?   And what is the top end of the total wattage before it   
   > becomes unsafe?  Sorry the question is so elementary, but I'd really   
   > kind of like to know.   
   >   
   > Thank you,   
   >    NotSparky   
      
   Volts x Amps = Watts   
      
   If you have a 120 volt outlet that is rated for 15 amps then (120 x 15 =   
   1800 watts).   
   You do have to take into account other items fed off of the same circuit.   
   For example, the outlet that your lamp is plugged into might also be fed   
   from the same circuit that your TV is fed from.   
   Find out which circuit breaker is feeding that circuit and turn it off. Now   
   go around that area and see which outlets are "dead."   
   Once you have an idea which outlets are all on the same circuit you can add   
   up all the things plugged into that circuit.   
   If the total number of watts is close to or over 1800 then you are running   
   the risk of overloading that circuit.   
      
   As far as the warning, most lamps carry that warning not because the   
   manufacturer thinks you will be overloading the circuit but because of the   
   heat generated by the light bulb. The manufacturer is saying that if you run   
   more then 300 watts in that lamp then the heat from that bulb may generate   
   enough heat to be a fire risk.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)