A dedicated circuit is electrical wiring that has its own circuit breaker. This may not mean much to many people out there, nor do we think about it very often. However, a dedicated circuit is essential. Heavy load appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and dryers require their own dedicated circuits. To help homeowners understand the purpose of a dedicated circuit, Simon Electric will explain why a dedicated circuit is important as well as necessary to your home’s electrical system.
Amps & Double Pole Switch Wiring
A dedicated circuit varies in amperage. Some may have amps up to 20, while others may go up to 30 and 50 amps. Heavy duty appliances to light duty appliances often require a certain amount of power in order to operate. If there aren’t enough amps or power for the appliance used, certain issues can occur. Most dedicated circuits use a double pole feature. This is used as protection. A double pole helps prevent the circuits from pulling too much electricity. When too much power is pulled into a circuit, it can cause overheating and a fire.
National Electrical Code (NEC) for Dedicated Circuits
When it comes to large or heavy load appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, heaters, and refrigerators, the National Electrical Code requires that a dedicated circuit is installed to power these items. Large equipment like a water heater or the HVAC system also requires a dedicated circuit due to the large amount of energy consumption. Without a dedicated circuit with the proper amperage the circuit will either constantly short circuit or even cause a fire.
Electrical Safety
Essentially the dedicated circuit is part of the home’s electrical safety system. There are a number of problems that can occur if the dedicated circuit is compromised. For example, the circuit can overheat, trip the breakers frequently, blow out fuses, and even cause a fire. In older homes there are often dedicated circuits that are equipped with low amperage circuits with modern appliances and electrical devices. Often in older homes, new dedicated circuit wiring is needed to handle or provide more power to modern devices. If the wiring is damaged along dedicated circuits, this too poses a major safety concern. One sign that there is a problem with a dedicated circuit will first be frequent breaker tripping. If your dedicated circuit line trips two or three time within a short span or each time you use an appliance, there is a problem in the circuit.
Electrical Inspections, Emergency Repairs & More in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter & Boca Raton & Palm Beach County Florida
When a dedicated circuit is showing signs of problems it is recommended to have your home electrical system inspected. When the electrician comes to the site, be sure to tell us there may be a problem with a dedicated circuit and which one is having the problem. There may be repairs or upgrades needed to your home’s electrical system. If you need your home’s electrical system inspected, repaired or upgraded, contact Simon Electric. We provide electrical services to Marine, Commercial, and Residential properties. For quality electrical services contact Simon Electric today.
