Electrical load and circuits
Your home has more electrical equipment than ever before. Air conditioning, kitchen appliances, pool equipment, and other high-demand devices load your electrical system. For safety and reliability, use dedicated circuits for major appliances.
Some equipment needs a dedicated circuit rather than sharing electricity with other appliances or outlets.
What Is a Dedicated Circuit?
What are dedicated circuits?
A dedicated circuit supplies electricity to one specific appliance or piece of equipment.
The circuit has its own breaker in the electrical panel and is sized appropriately for the equipment it serves.
Dedicated circuits help prevent an appliance from drawing too much electricity from a shared circuit.
Which Appliances May Need Dedicated Circuits?
Depending on the equipment and applicable electrical requirements, dedicated circuits may be used for high-demand appliances and systems such as:
- Electric ranges
- Ovens
- Clothes dryers
- Water heaters
- Air conditioning equipment
- Pool equipment
- EV chargers
- Large refrigerators or freezers
- Other high-wattage equipment
The specific requirements depend on the equipment and the home’s electrical system.
What Happens When a High-Demand Appliance Shares a Circuit?
When too many electrical devices draw power from the same circuit, the circuit can become overloaded.
A breaker may trip to prevent excessive current from continuing through the wiring.
Frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, warm outlets, or appliances that don’t operate properly can all be signs that an electrical circuit needs attention.
Can You Add a Dedicated Circuit to an Existing Home?
Yes. An electrician can evaluate the electrical panel and determine whether the home has sufficient capacity for a new circuit.
In some situations, installing the circuit may require modifications to the electrical panel or other parts of the electrical system.
This is particularly important when adding major equipment to an older Orlando home.
Don’t Solve Breaker Trips by Using a Larger Breaker
If a breaker keeps tripping, don’t replace it with a larger breaker simply to keep it from shutting off.
The breaker is designed to protect the circuit wiring. Installing an improperly sized breaker can create a serious safety hazard.
Instead, have the electrical system evaluated to determine what’s causing the problem.
Planning a New Appliance Installation?
If you’re adding a major appliance or electrical system to your Orlando home, it’s worth determining your electrical requirements before installation.
Thomas Edison Electric can evaluate your existing electrical system and install dedicated circuits for new equipment when appropriate.