1. Explain in detail what load limit means, and include maximum current, in amperes, as part of your explanation.

2. Find out about the power rating, in watts, of at least six electrical appliances. You can do this at home, at a store that sells appliances, or by studying a catalog. Some appliances have the watt rating stamped somewhere on the device itself, but for others you may have to check the instruction book for the appliance or find the power rating on the original package. Also, your local power company probably will provide a free list of appliances and their power ratings on request. Bring your list to class. If the appliance lists the current in amps, you can assume a voltage of 120 V and calculate the power (in watts) by using the equation P = VI.

3. List three appliances you would include in the HFE appliance package that will be part of the chapter assessment. For each appliance, list the power demand. For each appliance, describe how it will contribute to the well being of the people living in the dwelling.

4. An electric hair dryer has a power rating of 1200 W and is designed to be used on a 120 V household circuit. How much current flows in the dryer when it is in use?

5. A 120-V circuit for the kitchen of a home is protected by a 20 A circuit breaker. What combinations of the below appliances can be used on the circuit at the same time without the circuit breaker shutting off the circuit?

• 1000 W toaster
• 1200 W frying pan
• 300 W blender
• 600 W coffee maker

6. How many 60-W incandescent light bulbs can be operated at the same time on a 120 V, 15 A circuit in a home? How many energy-efficient 22-W fluorescent bulbs can operate on a similar circuit?

7. Some electrical appliances are rated in horsepower (HP). 1 HP = 746 W. What amount of current flows in a 0.8 HP vacuum cleaner operating on a 120 V circuit?

8. Some electrical appliances are rated in amps. What is the power in watts of a 6 A appliance designed to operate on a 120 V circuit?

Find out about the electrical system of your home or the home of a friend or acquaintance.

With the approval of the owner or manager, and with adult supervision, locate the load center, also called the main distribution panel, for the electrical system. Open the panel door and observe whether the system uses circuit breakers or fuses. How many are there, and what is the ampere rating shown on each fuse or circuit breaker? You may find some larger fuses or breakers that control large, 240-V appliances such as a kitchen range (electric stove); if so, how many are there, what are their ampere ratings, and, if you can, determine what they control.

In some load centers there is a list of what rooms or electrical devices are controlled by each fuse or breaker, but often the list is missing or incomplete.

With the approval of the owner or manager, and with adult supervision, you can develop a list that indicates what each fuse or breaker controls. To do so, shut off one circuit and go through the entire house to find the lights and outlets that are "dead" (check outlets with a lamp that you can carry around easily). Those items that are "off" are controlled by that fuse or breaker. List them. Then repeat the same process. Report your findings to your teacher in the form of a list or diagram of the house showing what is controlled by each fuse or circuit breaker.