Electrical Advice
 

OK, I admit it, I know very little about electricity. Here's the problem. My 15 year old is having a bunch of kids over Saturday. The entertainment went from a stereo and some CD's and turned into two guys with mics, guitars and amps and another with electric drums. They want to play on my patio. I have one plain old double outlet outside (not BFI or anything) and am thinking the draw for what they want to plug in will be too great and trip the breaker. I don't want to be running wires out windows and from here and there. I had my house built six years ago and don't remember asking for or being asked if I want any sort of upgraded electric so I guess my service is the normal kind (see how knowledgeable I am about this).
How do I figure out what the service is into my house and what the outlet can handle?
(And I wonder why I never have time to fish)

What you have to do is add up the draw on each of the toys the kids will be using (should be on the equip - listed in amps),plus anything else that will be running on that circuit at that time (lights ,etc.).Then compare that to the breaker for that outlet (like 15a). If it all adds up to less than the breaker, you're all set.If it's over, you're gonna have to run a line from another circuit.You may have some room there if they don't have everything cranked up full - wait, a bunch of 15 year olds - naw!

Max allowable draw on a breaker is like 80 percent of the breaker's value. So a 15 amp breaker would be 12 amps. Outside might be on a 20 amp breaker though....

I'm surprised I didn't know this, it's actually relatively easy to understand, thanks. But there's just one more thing I have to ask. I think I know the answer is yes, but my breaker box seems to have most individual breakers wired to two different rooms or areas in the house. So, for example if the breaker for outside also said "kitchen range", I need to take that amperage into consideration if I might also be using it during the concert.

If your house was a spec house when built then 9x out of 10 your outside receptacle is being shared with something else in the house. Determine what size breaker is feeding the receptacle next to the panel this one should be on a breaker by it self, if in fact it is on it's own breaker and by luck it is a 20A go out and get your self a 10 or 12 gauge cord and that should take care of what you need. If not I know the number of a good electrician :rotf3: