How Many Lights Should Be on A Circuit?

There are a number of factors that go into determining how many lights should be on a circuit. That’s why it’s so important to work with a highly-trained professional to help you install, maintain, and repair the circuit breaker in your home.

A light fixture will indicate the maximum wattage that specific fixture was designed to safely handle. Installing light bulbs with a higher wattage increases your risk for fire due to the heat production of the bulb.

Here are things you should consider prior to deciding how many lights should be on your home circuit panel:

• Electrical Panel – Before you install a circuit breaker, you’ll need to make sure you have an up-to-date electrical panel. This panel is the control point where the electricity enters your home. This supply then branches out to supply your home through various circuit breakers.
• Amperage – This is the amount of energy, or current, that is going through any light fixture. This will be clearly marked on each individual fixture.
• Wattage – This is the measurement of the use of electricity. One watt = one-volt x one amp.

How Your Circuit Breaker Works

A circuit breaker is an essential device in any modern home—serving as one of the most important mechanisms that keep your home and family safe. Circuit breakers come in a number of sizes that can be used to protect everything from household appliances to entire cities. These simple machines work continuously, monitoring the electrical current in your home. If current levels get too high, and too much current flows through your home’s wiring, the circuit breaker will cut the power until the problem is fixed.

Without the constant monitoring of a circuit breaker, the possibility of your appliance’s wires and your home’s wiring heating at such a rate to cause a fire are greatly increased. This can be caused by any number of things like an overheated fan motor, or a nail driven into the wall that accidentally punctures hidden wiring. It’s the job of your circuit breaker to cut off power to the offending circuit when the current reaches unsafe levels.

Circuit Breaker Safety Tips

If you are experiencing electrical issues in and around your home, you should contact a professional electrician to diagnose the problem and perform repairs as soon as possible. Common circuit breaker problems include:

• Repeated replacement of fuses
• Frequent reset of trip switches
• Lights flash or dim without warning
• Discolored outlets and switch plates
• And more!

Experienced Electricians in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia

If you are experiencing issues with your circuit breakers, or other areas of your home’s electrical system, it’s important to the problems investigated and corrected by a licensed professional. Your electrician can also help you determine if it’s time to replace your circuit breaker, helping you to maintain the safety of your home and family.

That’s where Jaffe Electric comes in! Our team of licensed and certified electricians can help with all your home and office electrical needs. Contact us today by requesting an estimate online or you can give us a call at 301.253.3778.