160 current figures — a 1700 W vacuum draws 7.7 A at 220 V
For every meeting of 20 appliances and 8 circuits: the current that flows and how many you can run at once. Breakers, power strips and wire all hold a limit in amps, not watts.
Ask in amps, not watts
A breaker trips on amps; a power strip and a length of wire hold out in amps. So "can I plug these in together?" cannot be answered by adding watts — divide by the voltage first, then add the currents. That division is where this table starts.
Half the voltage, twice the current
The same 1600 W hair dryer draws 7.3 A at 220 V and 13.3 A at 120 V. On a North American 15 A circuit one dryer already passes the limit; on a Korean 16 A circuit two of them fit. Carry an appliance across a border and the answer changes completely.
Continuous loads get eight tenths
A breaker does not trip the instant you reach its rating — it holds for a long while first, and the wire warms up in the meantime. So a load running more than three hours is planned to eight tenths of the breaker. On a 16 A breaker that is 12.8 A.
The power strip melts first
A common power strip is good for 15 A. Even behind a 32 A breaker, the strip is the ceiling — and the breaker never trips while the strip quietly heats up. Anything over 15 A, like a heater or an induction hob, belongs straight in the wall.
These figures are a starting point
The wattage here is typical for that kind of appliance. The real rating is on the label at the back or underneath, and anything with a motor briefly pulls several times as much at start-up. What else is already on the circuit counts too.
Power draw
- air purifier45 W
- laptop65 W
- fan80 W
- TV120 W
- fridge150 W
- heated blanket200 W
- game console220 W
- desktop PC350 W
- washing machine500 W
- toaster900 W
- rice cooker1100 W
- microwave1200 W
- coffee machine1400 W
- iron1500 W
- hair dryer1600 W
- vacuum cleaner1700 W
- air conditioner1800 W
- electric kettle2000 W
- space heater2200 W
- induction hob3000 W
Find it by appliance and circuit
Current that flows · How many fit at once
Japan 100 V · 15 ALimit for continuous use 12A
North America 120 V · 15 ALimit for continuous use 12A
North America 120 V · 20 ALimit for continuous use 16A
Korea 220 V · 16 ALimit for continuous use 12.8A
Korea 220 V · 20 ALimit for continuous use 16A
Korea 220 V · 32 ALimit for continuous use 25.6A
Europe 230 V · 16 ALimit for continuous use 12.8A
North America 240 V · 30 ALimit for continuous use 24A
How to read this
- Current is the power draw divided by the voltage — a different country gives a different answer.
- The number that fits at once is eight tenths of the breaker divided by that current.
- A power strip stops at 15 A. A bigger breaker does not help; the strip is the ceiling.
- The wire gauge is taken straight from the wire pages.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How many amps is an electric kettle?
At 2000 W, 9.1 A on 220 V and 16.7 A on 120 V — the wattage divided by the voltage.
Q. Why does my breaker keep tripping?
Because the currents of everything on that circuit add up past its rating. Two big loads on one circuit — a heater and a kettle — usually do it.
Q. Can I put several things on one power strip?
As long as the currents add to under 15 A. Even behind a 32 A breaker the strip stops at 15 A, and then the breaker never trips while the strip heats up.
Q. Why plan to only eight tenths?
A breaker holds well past its rating before tripping. For loads running more than three hours the common rule is to plan at 80% of it.
Q. Can I use an appliance brought from abroad?
Only if the voltage matches. A different voltage changes the current it draws by up to double, so the circuit and the outlet have to be judged again.