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#1
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microwave on switched outlet?
I would like to move my microwave from the kitchen countertop into a
spacious cabinet to free up the counter. There is currently a 14ga wire running to that cabinet from a wall switch (prior owner intended to install accent lighting in glass-fronted portion of cabinet. Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? How do I tell if the switch is 'rated' for a certain power draw? I would obviously install a GFI outlet. Thanks, Teo |
#2
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microwave on switched outlet?
wrote in message
oups.com... I would like to move my microwave from the kitchen countertop into a spacious cabinet to free up the counter. There is currently a 14ga wire running to that cabinet from a wall switch (prior owner intended to install accent lighting in glass-fronted portion of cabinet. Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? How do I tell if the switch is 'rated' for a certain power draw? I would obviously install a GFI outlet. Thanks, Teo Switches have ratings stamped on them. Take it out and look. After you look, put the switch on the kitchen table, and join the wires in the outlet together so they're not switched any more. Go buy a nice blank plate to cover the box. Have a beer. |
#3
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microwave on switched outlet?
wrote in message
Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? I have my microwave on a wall switch. I turn it off when it is not in use and this saves electricity. I also have a power strip for my TV/Stereo and I also turn this off when not in use which saves electricity. So far as rating, 14 ga. wire is for a 15 amp circuit. Get a 15amp switch. Should say 15 amp or 15 A on the switch. (I have 12 ga. wire, a 20 amp outlet, and I use a 20 amp rated switch.) Also check local electrical codes. I don't know if they would require a separate 20 amp outlet for a microwave or whatever. If you are having your work inspected, run it by your local electrical inspector before doing any work. Could save you time and money... |
#4
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microwave on switched outlet?
According to :
I would like to move my microwave from the kitchen countertop into a spacious cabinet to free up the counter. There is currently a 14ga wire running to that cabinet from a wall switch (prior owner intended to install accent lighting in glass-fronted portion of cabinet. Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? How do I tell if the switch is 'rated' for a certain power draw? I would obviously install a GFI outlet. Walls switches are rated for 15A. That's more than adequate for a microwave. Microwaves aren't motors, so you don't need to get motor-rated switches. It'll be an annoyance to lose all the settings on the microwave whenever anybody hits the switch. Remove it and jumper the wires, covering the hole with a blank plate if you're worried. -- Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
#5
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microwave on switched outlet?
most microwaves are 1500w or less, so you shouldn't have a problem
using a 15 amp circuit, but it may be better to rewire as others have said. Empressess #124457 The best Games a href=http://www.gamestotal.com/Multiplayer Online Games/a a href=http://www.gamestotal.com/Strategy Games/abra href=http://uc.gamestotal.com/Unification Wars/a - a href=http://uc.gamestotal.com/Massive Multiplayer Online Games/abra href=http://gc.gamestotal.com/Galactic Conquest/a - a href=http://gc.gamestotal.com/Strategy Games/abra href=http://www.stephenyong.com/runescape.htmRunescape/abra href=http://www.stephenyong.com/kingsofchaos.htmKings of chaos/abr wrote: I would like to move my microwave from the kitchen countertop into a spacious cabinet to free up the counter. There is currently a 14ga wire running to that cabinet from a wall switch (prior owner intended to install accent lighting in glass-fronted portion of cabinet. Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? How do I tell if the switch is 'rated' for a certain power draw? I would obviously install a GFI outlet. Thanks, Teo |
#6
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microwave on switched outlet?
I would not want a microwave on a switched outlet. And my house did
have that when I bought it. I ran a separate circuit just for the microwave. |
#7
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microwave on switched outlet?
On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:38:31 -0700, "Bill"
wrote: wrote in message Is it safe to run a microwave on a circuit/outlet controlled by a wall switch? I have my microwave on a wall switch. I turn it off when it is not in use and this saves electricity. I also have a power strip for my TV/Stereo and I also turn this off when not in use which saves electricity. Like everything else, there's some tradeoff. How much work does it take to restore settings when you want to use the device again? So far as rating, 14 ga. wire is for a 15 amp circuit. Get a 15amp switch. Should say 15 amp or 15 A on the switch. (I have 12 ga. wire, a 20 amp outlet, and I use a 20 amp rated switch.) Also check local electrical codes. I don't know if they would require a separate 20 amp outlet for a microwave or whatever. If you are having your work inspected, run it by your local electrical inspector before doing any work. Could save you time and money... -- 90 days until the winter solstice celebration Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." -- George Washington |
#8
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microwave on switched outlet?
On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:38:31 -0700, "Bill"
wrote: Also check local electrical codes. I don't know if they would require a separate 20 amp outlet for a microwave or whatever. Surely not for those tiny ones, but they may have maximum wattage for 15 amps. If you are having your work inspected, run it by your local electrical inspector before doing any work. Could save you time and money... |
#9
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microwave on switched outlet?
Microwaves are often located in kitchens which have coffee makers and
toasters and such which use up a large fraction of 15 amperes. If somebody tries to use a microwave AND a heating appliance on the same circuit at the same time, I think a blown 15 ampere fuse is quite likely. mm wrote: On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:38:31 -0700, "Bill" wrote: Also check local electrical codes. I don't know if they would require a separate 20 amp outlet for a microwave or whatever. Surely not for those tiny ones, but they may have maximum wattage for 15 amps. If you are having your work inspected, run it by your local electrical inspector before doing any work. Could save you time and money... |
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