Microwave- Question on Specs

sweaty

I am renovating my 1977 kitchen and will get an over-the-range microwave. I noticed that the label inside the oven says things like 1800W input, 1000W output. What does this mean?

I know I need to add another circuit for the microwave, but this input/output thing affects whether the new wire is 12AWG or 14AWG.

AandPDan

In this case, bigger is better.

A 15 amp circuit can supply 1800 watts, a 20 amp circuit can supply 2400 watts.

As a general rule of thumb you don't want to load them more than 80% which would be 1440 watts for the 15 amp circuit.

For the small additional cost of wire and lower voltage drop run the 12 gauge wire.

Edit: Don't worry about the output in the above, that's the cooking power.

hardwareman

definitely 12 AWG

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