View Full Version : Modifying pool cabana
MattZimm
Oct 21, 2011, 10:24 AM
I'm working on a small pool cabana and it is being turned into an office. There is 40 amps in there now and want to know if that's ebough to run a couple laptops, fridge, couple desk lamps, printer, telephone and 2 small baseboard heaters if not what do I do to bring the amps up?
smoothy
Oct 21, 2011, 11:23 AM
YOu are going to have to know what the wattages of everything are, total that number, allow for a startup surge for the refrigerator and calculate the amps drawn, allowing a safety margin.
If you need more, you have to hire an electrician to change the feed lines and main brakers to something larger.
tkrussell
Oct 21, 2011, 01:25 PM
Smoothy is correct that the best is to get back with a list of loads in amps or watts, and voltage rating, of each device and appliance.
My gut tells me 40 amps is barely adequate, depending on usage. The fridge, printer, and electric heaters concern me.
The starting surge will be no issue since the circuit breaker is what handles the high inrush of motors.
The cushion will be derating the circuit by 20%, by not loading the circuit more than 80%, which is 32 amps or 7680 watts. If your totals exceeds those values, it maybe too small.