Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Web Hosting Lounge : Is there an electrician in the house?

[Rebel]

Good morning WHT'ers,
I'm not very electrical savvy, so please forgive this potentially silly question. What is the max wattage you can use against a 10kA circuity breaker? I got an 1100w counter-top microwave for my apartment, and it quite literally blew out a hour ago after a month of use.
I'm not sure whether it's a lemon or if it's just too much power for my place. My old one was 700w and 0.7cf which worked fine, but it's too small to even cook a full bag of popcorn without hitting the sides when rotating.
Thanks for any help ahead of time!

[bear]

Which blew out, that breaker or the microwave? If it's the microwave, it's faulty. Inadequate power wouldn't do that, it would simply trip the breaker or not perform well, IMO.

1100w is around 9 amps at 120v, so by itself the microwave should never trip the circuit breaker. Is there anything on the same circuit as the microwave?

[samdax]

10kA circuity breaker?
are you sure? did you mean 10A?

[diligent]

I'd say the microwave is faulty as well, if you're still getting power out of the same circuit the microwave was plugged into, I'd return it (hopefully you kept a receipt!)

[Rebel]

It was definitely the microwave that blew out and I do recall it tripping the breaker before which is the only way I know which one it was since I have 15 in the box. It takes up a single slot, has the number 20 on the switch, and the marking 10kA on the end of it. The handwritten label has "Disposal" on it so I assume the garbage disposal wall in the kitchen which has 4 outlets, the microwave being the only thing plugged into it and running.

[Webdude]

I'm not very electrical savvy, so please forgive this potentially silly question. What is the max wattage you can use against a 10kA circuity breaker? I got an 1100w counter-top microwave for my apartment, and it quite literally blew out a hour ago after a month of use.
Stop putting tin foil over the things you heat up in there

[vito]

If the microwave is blowing, then it is faulty.
FYI, you have a 20 Amp breaker with 10 kA AIR (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_ka_rating_of_a_circuit_breaker_mean).
Vito

[Rebel]

Stop putting tin foil over the things you heat up in there
...all I wanted to do is make some old style Jiffy Pop. What, I wasn't doing it right?
If the microwave is blowing, then it is faulty.
FYI, you have a 20 Amp breaker with 10 kA AIR (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_ka_rating_of_a_circuit_breaker_mean).
Vito
Ahh, thank you. That's re-assuring and frightening at the same time it was shooting out that much electricity to trip the breaker. It did cook the food pretty thoroughly though when it worked.
Thank you guys. I'm heading out to the store to return this for something similar, but maybe a bit better quality. Although this one is a Kenmore...

[colbyt]

After getting a partial plate for a couple of lost teeth I decided a warmed payday candy bar was the way to go.
Warning: Take them out of the wrapper or you will see lightning in the MW.
The little bit of foil inside the wrapper does it.

[Mekhu]

lol colby... done it myself. I remember having a brain fart and attempting to warm a plate of baked potatoes still in their foil from the BBQ. Light show!!!!