1. What is a Lighting Load Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the total electrical power load from multiple lighting fixtures by summing their individual wattages.

Purpose: Helps electricians, engineers, and homeowners determine the total power consumption of lighting systems for proper circuit sizing and energy planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{total} \) — Total power load (watts)
• \( P_{light} \) — Wattage of each individual light fixture (watts)

Explanation: The wattages of all connected lighting fixtures are simply added together to get the total power load.

3. Importance of Lighting Load Calculation

Details: Accurate load calculations ensure electrical circuits aren't overloaded, prevent tripped breakers, and help with energy efficiency planning.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the wattage for each light fixture. You can leave unused fields blank or set to zero. All values must be ≥ 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Should I include all lights on the same circuit?
A: Yes, this calculator sums all lights that would be powered simultaneously on the same circuit.

Q2: What about LED vs. incandescent wattages?
A: Use the actual wattage labeled on the fixture, regardless of technology type.

Q3: How does this relate to circuit breaker sizing?
A: Total wattage divided by voltage gives amperage (e.g., 1200W/120V = 10A), which should be ≤ 80% of breaker rating.

Q4: Should I add a safety factor?
A: It's recommended to add 10-20% to the calculated load for safety margin and future expansion.

Q5: How many lights can I calculate at once?
A: This calculator shows 3 inputs, but you can add more fields as needed in your implementation.