When we what power of light to hireIt is vital to understand how this concept works so as not to overpay for excessive power or suffer constant blackouts due to not having enough. Knowing what power of light to contract is crucial to optimise both the economic expenditure and the comfort in your home. If you contract too little power, the fuses will blow when turning on several appliances, and if you contract too much, you will be paying too much.
Below, we explain everything you need to know to choose the best electrical power for your home, tailored to your needs and avoiding waste.
What is electrical power
To know what light power to contract, we must first understand what electrical power is. power is the amount of energy consumed or generated in a given time. It is measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW), where 1 kW is equivalent to 1000 W. This means that the electrical power indicates the number of devices that you can connect simultaneously without exceeding the contracted capacity.
An easy way to think of power is like the width of a highway: the more power you have, the more lanes there are for your home's electrical devices to operate without interruption.
The relationship between energy and power is simple, as power measures the speed at which energy is consumed. If you connect several high-consumption appliances at the same time, you will need more power to avoid blowing the fuses.
Taking this concept into account is essential to know How many kilowatts do you need for all your appliances to run smoothly? at the same time and make your electricity consumption efficient.
Frequently asked questions about what power of light to contract
Some of the most common questions users ask when faced with the task of contracting adequate power are related to the appliances that can be used simultaneously. The contracted {“voltage”} or power varies depending on several factors, such as the number of appliances and the size of the home.
It doesn't depend so much on the size of the house, as you could live in a large house with few appliances, or in a small one with many appliances. What is relevant is knowing how many devices are used at the same time.
Therefore, it is important not only count the number of appliances, but also know how many of them are high-consumption, such as the washing machine, oven or air conditioning. Depending on which ones you use at the same time, you will have to adjust the contracted power.
Rules to learn what power of light to hire
To help you make the best decision, here are some Fundamental rules on the contracting of power what do you need:
- Rule 1: The higher the contracted power, the higher the fixed cost on your bill. Therefore, you should adjust the contracted power as precisely as possible to pay the right amount.
- Rule 2: Don't lower the power too much thinking that you'll save money. If you contract less than necessary, the fuses will blow every time you use several appliances at the same time. But, if you fall short, you'll have to increase the power later and that can end up costing you more.
- Rule 3: Remember that the electrical installation also has its limits. Not all homes allow very high power, which may force you to change the electrical installation if you want to increase the power beyond a certain limit.
Calculation of the necessary power
FOR calculate the recommended power For your home, you need to make a list of the appliances you have and those you could use at the same time. The goal is to predict how much power you need in those situations of higher consumption. Apart from that, you should also consider the type of installation:
- Single-phase: The most common in homes, this system distributes the entire electrical load in a single phase.
- Three-phase: This system divides the load into three phases, which results in a more efficient distribution of electricity when it comes to high consumption.
In Spain, the most common powers for homes are between 3,45 kW and 4,6 kWHowever, depending on the size of your home and the appliances connected, you may need a higher wattage.
How to calculate the electrical power of your home
The most accurate way to calculate the lighting power needed is to do a manual calculation by adding up the power of all the appliances you are going to have connected at the same time. Fortunately, there are several methods to do this, some quicker like online calculators, or you can do the sum manually.
- Manual method: Add up the wattage of all the appliances and devices you will frequently use at the same time. Then apply a simultaneity factor (usually between 0,3 and 0,5). Finally, add 1 to 2 kW to account for lighting and other minor appliances.
- Professional advice: Hire an electrician to check your installation and make a calculation according to your needs.
Example: If you have a well-equipped home with appliances such as a washing machine, dishwasher, oven and refrigerator, the total power they would absorb would be approximately 5.5 kW. Applying a simultaneity factor of 0.3, you would get a power of 1.65 kW. Adding 1 kW more for lighting and other appliances, you would get a minimum recommended power of 2.65 kW.
This power would be adequate for a small or medium-sized home, but if you turn on more appliances simultaneously, you will need to contract a higher power.
What affects the calculation of electrical power
Several factors that influence electrical power that you need to hire in your home:
- Household appliances and types of appliances: Having more powerful appliances or using them more often will increase your power needs.
- People in the house:The more people there are in the home, the more appliances will be in use at the same time.
- house size: Larger homes with more appliances require more power.
- Organization of consumption: If you can avoid using large power consumption appliances at the same time, you may need less wattage.
By contracting the appropriate power, you will achieve a balance between cost and your daily comfort, to avoid power cuts or spending more than necessary.
Adjusting the contracted power can generate monthly savings without affecting the use of your appliances, as long as you calculate the needs well according to your home and consumption habits.