What it calculates
Add major loads and estimate total connected amperage.
Electrical Load Summary Calculator
Add common major loads and estimate total connected amperage for early project planning.
Planning and estimating aid only. Verify project requirements, manufacturer instructions, adopted codes, permits, and field conditions before performing regulated work.
Electrical planning
How to Use This Calculator
Use the field units shown below, then compare your result with the worked example. Check units on equipment labels: watts, volt-amperes and amps are different quantities.
How the calculation works
The calculator totals the entered connected wattage and divides by service voltage to show a simple connected-load current.
What the result means
A dwelling service calculation can require specific demand factors and rules that are not represented by a simple wattage total.
Add connected loads without implying a service design
An illustrative 1,000 watts of lighting plus 2,000 watts entered for HVAC totals 3,000 watts. Dividing this simple connected-load total by 240 volts gives 12.5 amps. The example demonstrates the arithmetic only.
Contractor tip: Check units on equipment labels: watts, volt-amperes and amps are different quantities. Do not silently enter a VA rating as real watts or assume every listed load operates simultaneously.
Verify the final quantity
This is a sum of the watts you enter. It does not apply a dwelling demand calculation, motor rules, power-factor corrections or phase balancing. It does not establish a required service rating.
Good practice: Compare the calculated quantity with plans, specifications, product packaging and current field conditions before purchasing material.