Question

You have been hired by a homeowner to install a ceiling fan and light kit in a living room. The living room luminaire (light fixture) being used at the present time contains two 60-W lamps. After locating the circuit in the panel box, you find that the circuit is protected by a 15-A circuit breaker and is run with 2.5mm² copper wire. After turning on all lights connected to this circuit, you have a current draw of 8.6 A and a voltage of 120V. The ceiling fan light kit contains four 60-W lamps, and the fan has a maximum current draw of 1.6 A. Can this fan be connected to the existing living room circuit? Recall that a continuous-use circuit should not be loaded to more than 80% of its rated capacity.

Answer 1

No, you cannot add the ceiling fan to the circuit.

Step-by-step explanation:

120V/60W=0.5A (V/W=A)

0.5A*4=2A (you have 4 60W lamps)

2A+1.6A=3.6A

3.6Ax0.125=0.45A (continuous load appliances must have amperage rated at 125% according to USA NFPA 70)

0.45A+3.6A=4.05A

4.05A+8.6A=12.65A

Assuming all devices on the circuit are ON, there would be a total current draw of 12.65A (after adding the ceiling fan). 80% of 15A is 12A.