Most homes have 15-amp outlets. These sockets are sufficient to power everyday appliances like kitchen devices, lamps, and TVs. To get the most out of these outlets, many use multi-socket extensions and plugs. This allows them to run multiple devices on the same outlet. However, overloading an outlet poses a risk of fire in the house which most homeowners are unaware of.
Many people don’t understand that the outlet limit also applies to light fixtures. So, installing LED lights in the house without help from a technician is not as easy as it sounds.
While LED lights including recessed lights come with kits to help you with the installation process, the wiring work can be tricky. Even trickier is the fact that you need to take care of the load on each wire and electric socket to keep your DIY job in working condition and safe for the house.
In this guide, you will learn how to calculate the number of LED lights that you can safely connect to a 15-amp circuit. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how many lights on a 15-amp circuit are efficient and safe.
What is Circuit Capacity?
In theory, one amp is 120 volts. So, a 15-amp circuit will be able to handle appliances that use up to 1,800 watts. However, this is the maximum wattage that a 15-amp circuit can handle. Therefore, it is crucial not to utilize 100% of a circuit’s capacity for safety reasons.
According to the National Electrical Code (NEC) any circuit, whether in a residential or commercial space should only be used up to 80% of its capacity. Following this recommendation makes sure that the circuit is not overloaded.
For a 15-amp circuit, this means that you should add a load of a maximum of 1,440 watts. Now that you know what the capacity of a 15-amp circuit is, we can calculate the number of LED lights that can safely operate on this circuit.
LED Lights Power Consumption
LED lights, including pendant lighting, have been a revolutionary product of lighting. This has allowed homeowners and commercial property owners to power up large and beautiful modern lights like those at Yiosilamp without paying heavy bills.
LED lights that are commonly used around the house consume between 5 to 15 watts. An LED bulb that gives off 400 lumens consumes 5.5 watts of power. Compared to this, an incandescent bulb consumes 40 watts for 400 lumens of light (Source).
A 700-lumen LED bulb takes up 9.5 watts of power. To simplify our calculation, let’s assume that an LED bulb takes up 10 watts of power.
So, if each bulb takes up 10 watts of power, a 15-amp circuit can bear the load of 144 LED bulbs. While this is a good starting point, some factors affect the number of LED bulbs that you can run safely on a 15-amp circuit.
Factors Affecting the Number of LED Lights on a Circuit
While theoretically, you can run 144, 10w LED lights on a single 15-amp circuit, there are some other factors you need to consider for safe installation:
Varied Power
In our calculation, we assumed that the LED lights installed in the house take up 10 watts of power. However, depending on the lumens they give off, the wattage that each LED light consumes also differs. Some LED lights might take up more wattage. If they are all attached to a single circuit, there exists a chance of overloading the circuit.
It is wise to check the wattage of the LED lights you’re using. With a simple calculation, you can rule out the chances of overloading the circuit.
Other Circuit Loads
Many times, we overlook other devices that could be attached to the same circuit. If there are appliances, fans, or outlets on the same 15-amp circuit, you need to add these to your calculation.
Other loads on the circuit mean lesser available wattage for the LED lights you’re installing.
Safety Margin
Although theoretically, you need to keep a small margin of safety to keep the circuit running effectively and safely. However, when it comes to a real circuit, there are loads of things at play including power loss in the circuit due to wiring issues or an overlooked outlet attached to the same circuit.
Additional LED Installation Tips
When you’re installing LED lights yourself, keep the factors that affect circuit loads in mind. To make sure that your LED installation is successful, here are some other additional tips to consider:
Circuit Labeling
Good practice is to label each circuit in your breaker box to avoid overloading. You can do this by following these steps:
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Gather a notebook and get a person on board who can help you.
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Turn on all the lights and appliances in your home.
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Turn off one breaker and note down which devices and outlets lose power.
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Note down these outlets and fixtures in your notebook.
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Turn on the breaker and proceed to the next.
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Keep testing the breakers till you have a list of all the circuits and their outlets and fixtures with you.
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Calculate the load on each circuit to figure out the available wattage for your LED bulbs.
Energy Audits
An energy audit can help assess the condition of wiring and gauge the power losses in your home. A professional can help you with the energy audit. When you have a clear understanding of the condition of the wiring in your house, you can safely add load to the circuits in your house without any risk of overloading and fire.
Final Words
Theoretically, on a 15-amp circuit, you can run 144, 10w LED lights. So, installing a chandelier light with a number of LED lights is a safe bet. But this is only if your circuit has no other load on it and your wiring is in perfect condition.
Ready to upgrade your home lighting and stay ahead of the Lighting Trends in 2025? Visit Yiosilamp today to explore our stunning collection of chandelier lights, pendant lighting, and other modern lights that combine style, efficiency, and innovation. Whether you're looking for energy-efficient LED solutions or the latest in lighting design, Yiosilamp has everything you need to transform your space. Don’t wait—discover the perfect lighting to match your home and embrace the future of illumination now!
FAQs
Can I safely install LED bulbs on my 15-amp circuit?
We advise you to always consult a qualified technician before making changes to the wiring in your home. Installing LED lights is not very risky since they do not take up a lot of wattage in a 15-amp circuit. However, if you’re installing a big light fixture with loads of LED lights, it is best to get help from a professional rather than risk the safety of your home and non-compliance with regulations and building codes.
How many LED lights can you have on one switch?
While there is no limit to how many LED lights you can connect to one switch, you should consider the circuit load on the outlet you’re connecting the LED lights to and the wattage that each LED light needs to work. If you’ve chosen a 10w LED light, you can add 144 of them to one switch if there are no other loads on the outlet or any other outlets on the same circuit.
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