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?
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 C and D undercount the math. Option A confuses watts with amps and is off by an order of magnitude.
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