What Is Electrical Load?
Electrical load is the amount of electrical power that a device or group of devices draws from a circuit. A home's load includes appliances, lighting and other equipment that uses electricity. The total changes as devices turn on and off, and it helps determine what electrical equipment a home needs.
Quick Facts About Electrical Load
- Category
- Electrical power demand
- Used for
- Panel and circuit planning
- Common confusion
- Load versus panel capacity
- Also called
- Load
- Often discussed with
- Electrical Panel Upgrade
Key Takeaways About Electrical Load
- Load describes demand, while panel capacity describes the supply limit.
- Planned appliances belong in a panel upgrade assessment.
- A breaker rating isn't the same as actual demand.
How Electrical Load Works
Electrical load changes as equipment draws power from your electrical system. A heater draws power while it runs, but its demand stops when it switches off. Equipment can also draw a different amount of power at different settings. Related service: Electrical Panel Upgrade.
Related glossary terms: Load Center, Circuit Breaker, Circuit Overload.
Watts measure power, while amps measure electrical current. Voltage describes the electrical pressure that moves current through a circuit. These terms describe different parts of the same electrical system.
A load calculation estimates the demand a system must serve. It accounts for the equipment in a home and how its demand is counted. The result helps determine whether the panel and its supply can support the expected use.
Actual demand and calculated demand aren't always the same. A meter shows demand during a particular period, while a calculation accounts for expected use. A panel upgrade plan may use both kinds of information.
From the Electrician Pittsburgh team
When we plan a panel upgrade, we review the home's existing equipment and ask about planned additions. We also look at the electrical service supplying the panel. A larger panel alone doesn't increase the capacity of that supply.
Electrical Load in Practice: A Real-World Example
A homeowner plans a panel upgrade before adding an electric range. The load calculation accounts for the range along with the home's existing electrical equipment.
Related Services
Related Terms
Load Center
A load center is an electrical panel that distributes power to circuits throughout a building.
Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker is an electrical protection device that stops current when a circuit draws too much power or develops a short.
Circuit Overload
A circuit overload is a condition that occurs when electrical devices draw more current than a circuit is designed to carry.
Service Entrance
A service entrance is the electrical equipment that brings utility power into a building and connects it to the main electrical system.
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