Before you flip the switch on your new 1000 W space heater, you housemate cries

Question

Before you flip the switch on your new 1000 W space heater, you housemate cries "Stop! you will blow the fuse," because it would run on the same circuit as your 250 W refrigerator and your 800 W dishwasher (currently running). You go and check the fuse box and see the circuit in question has a 20 Amp fuse. Does your housemate have a valid concern? Verify your answer with a calculation of the current the circuit would have to carry if you turned on the space heater.

Before you flip the switch on your new 1000 W space heater, your housemate cries "Stop! you will blow the fuse," because it would run on the same circuit as your 250 W refrigerator and your 800 W dishwasher (currently running). You go and check the fuse box and see the circuit in question has a 20 Amp fuse. Does your housemate have a valid concern? Verify your answer with a calculation of the current the circuit would have to carry if your turned on the space heater.

Explanation / Answer

Supply voltage is:

V = 110V

Total circuit power if the tv is switched on:

P = 1000 + 250 + 800 = 2050 W

So, the total circuit current:

I = P/V = 2050/110 = 17A

which is less than 20A fuse current. So fuse will not blow. Invalid concern.

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