Final answer:
The load for an electric clothes dryer in a household should be 5000 watts or the nameplate rating, whichever is greater. This ensures that the electrical system can safely handle the power consumption of the dryer without overloading the circuit. The correct answer is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The load for a household electric clothes dryer in a dwelling unit should be either 5000 watts (volt-amperes) or the nameplate rating, whichever is larger, for each dryer served. This is an important consideration when designing electrical systems for homes to ensure that the circuit can handle the appliance without tripping breakers or causing a safety hazard. Electrical appliances, including clothes dryers, have a wattage rating that indicates how much power they consume. For instance, a typical electric clothes dryer may use around 5000 watts, or 5 kilowatts, of electricity.
Circuit breakers are an essential safety feature in homes, usually rated between 10 and 30 amps, designed to protect against excessive current that could cause damage or fire. It’s important to understand that a clothes dryer's power needs may require a dedicated circuit to handle the load. For example, an 1800-W toaster, a 1400-W electric frying pan, and a 75-W lamp can be used to illustrate the importance of current draw on a circuit. If all these devices were to run on the same 15-A, 120-V circuit simultaneously, they would draw a total current that exceeds the circuit breaker's capacity, potentially causing it to trip.