Electricity & EquipmentQuestion 405 of 484
A salon device is rated 1500 watts and is plugged into a standard 120-volt circuit. Approximately how many amperes does it draw, and why does this matter for safety?
a.About 1.5 A; the load is trivial and any extension cord is acceptable
b.About 6 A; well below any typical circuit limit
c.About 12.5 A; close to the 15 A limit of most salon circuits, so it should not share an outlet with another high-wattage tool
d.About 180 A; only industrial wiring can support it
Explanation
Amperage equals watts divided by volts (Ohm's law applied to power: I = P/V). 1500 W divided by 120 V equals 12.5 A, which is very close to the 15 A breaker rating common in salon receptacles. Plugging a second high-wattage appliance into the same circuit will trip the breaker or, worse, overheat the wiring before the breaker trips, creating a fire risk behind the wall. California licensees are required under CCR Title 16 §979 to maintain equipment in safe working order and to follow manufacturer load instructions. Option A and B undercount the math. Option D confuses watts with amps and is off by an order of magnitude.
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