"TURTLE" wrote in message
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"SteveB" wrote in
message news:j1aKe.84965$4o.53276@fed1read06...
We just bought a cabin. It has a 100 amp service
breaker, and a service panel with 5 20 amp breakers.

I know on appliances, all I have to do to find out
the amperage is RTFM, but for lights and such, how
do I calculate just how much wattage I can put on
any breaker circuit?

The lighting is inadequate. I will need more. I
have a licensed electrician friend who will come and
wire everything, so it will be done right and safe.
I just need to get an idea how many lights we are
talking about so I can do some shopping. I don't
want to max everything out and put up a ton of
lights. I just want to balance them, and not put so
many that I am approaching critical mass.

TIA

Steve

this is Turtle.

In normal lighting circuits it is hard to over load
normal lighting wattages to just light up a cabin.
Just take 1 -- 20 amp breaker and circuit for lights
only and that gives you 20 -- 100 watt light bulbs to
light up the cabin. One Circuit is what I thinik you
need for all lighting to the cabin.

Now really 19.6 -- 100 watt light bulbs to be exact.

TURTLE

Not the best idea: Pop the breaker an dthe whole place
goes dark. They should be mixed on at least two
breakers, and instead of 20 bulbs, that would be 16
bulbs. Over 80% usage will allow normal variations in
the grid, cabin, over time, breakers, etc. to begin to
heat the breaker, thus degrading it over time and
leaving no safety overhead. So with a min two lines
you've got 32 bulbs now, lots more than you'll need.
Not sure where the 80% figure comes from, nec, ul, mfg,
whatever, but it's reality.

HTH,
Pop