microwave · 1200W
5.22A
Europe 230 V · 16 A
microwave, 1200 W — 5.22 A on a 230 V / 16 A circuit
1200 W divided by 230 V is 5.22 A. This circuit allows 12.8 A continuously, so 2 of them can run together.
This circuit handles it
Fine on a power strip
- Power draw
- 1200 W
- Voltage
- 230 V
- Breaker
- 16 A
- Current that flows
- 5.22 A
- Limit for continuous use
- 12.8 A
- How many fit at once
- 2
- Wire it needs
- AWG 20
- Two hours a day, per month
- 72 kWh
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.
Nearby cells
Same appliance, other circuits
Same circuit, other appliances
air purifier
0.2A · 65
laptop
0.28A · 45
fan
0.35A · 36
TV
0.52A · 24
fridge
0.65A · 19
heated blanket
0.87A · 14
game console
0.96A · 13
desktop PC
1.52A · 8
washing machine
2.17A · 5
toaster
3.91A · 3
rice cooker
4.78A · 2
microwave
5.22A · 2
coffee machine
6.09A · 2
iron
6.52A · 1
hair dryer
6.96A · 1
vacuum cleaner
7.39A · 1
air conditioner
7.83A · 1
electric kettle
8.7A · 1
space heater
9.57A · 1
induction hob
13.04A · 0
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 does a microwave draw?
1200 W over 230 V is 5.22 A.
Q. How many fit on this circuit?
2. Eight tenths of the 16 A breaker is 12.8 A, divided by 5.22 A.
Q. Is a power strip fine?
Yes — it stays within the 15 A a common strip holds.
Q. What wire does it need?
AWG 20 carries this current comfortably. Two hours a day comes to 72 kWh a month.