In the late 1960s, when microwaves revolutionized the way that families heated their food, every mom hurried to the store to purchase one.

Compared to using the stove, they could prepare dinner faster and with less energy!

So, how many amps does a microwave use?

Microwaves use an average of 10 amps, but ones with 1,000 watts use only 8.3 amps. On average, a 700-watt amp draws only 5.8 amps. Because microwaves rarely draw more than 20 amps, most 20-amp circuits can accommodate any microwave.

Microwaves are powered by electricity, but how much of it do they consume and how much does it typically cost to run one?

We will address all of your concerns regarding the usage and electrical requirements of microwaves as well as the implications for you and your family’s mealtime.

For more information, continue reading.

How Many Amps Does A Microwave Use?

An average 1000 watt microwave draws about 10 amps.

The typical microwave uses between 5.4 and 10 amps and has a power range of 600 to 1200 watts.

More amps are needed for the microwave with higher wattage.

The faster the device cooks your food, the more amps it has.

What Is Amperage?

The quantity of electrons in an electrical circuit is measured in amps (amperes).

However, amperage and voltage work together to create the output, with higher amperage typically corresponding to more power.

Although voltage also measures electrical current, it does so by measuring pressure rather than the quantity of electrons.

The all-inclusive measurement of power, the wattage, is calculated by multiplying a device’s amperage and voltage.

Why Do I Need To Know My Microwave’s Amperage?

Knowing your microwave’s amperage will improve safety and shield your appliance from damage that can result from connecting a device that consumes a lot of amperage to a circuit that can only handle a small amount.

Lower amperage microwaves can be safely plugged into higher amperage circuits without any issues.

For instance, you can safely plug a 15-amp microwave into a 20-amp circuit but not a 20-amp microwave into a 15-amp circuit.

Microwave Oven Wattage

There are a few ways to figure out your microwave’s wattage if you are unsure. First of all, it should be in your owner’s manual. But a week or so after purchasing the microwave, I believe many of us either lost it or threw it away.

You can always search your microwave for the owner’s manual if you can’t find it. In most cases, both the input and output wattage should be listed right on the inner part of the door. In the event that it isn’t, check one of the interior microwave oven walls. Additionally, you’ll notice the voltage, which is typically 120.

Try Boiling Some Water

There is a less accurate way to figure out the wattage of your microwave oven. Although not as professional, it is somewhat intriguing. The boil test will provide the necessary information by measuring how long it takes your microwave oven to bring one cup of water to a boil. View the table below.

Wattage	Time Water Takes to Boil
500	3:30
600	2:55
700	2:30
750	2:20
800	2:11
900	1:57
1,000	1:45
1,100	1:35
1,200	1:27
1.250	1:25
1,300	1:21
1,400	1:15
1,500	1:10
1,600	1:06

This Is Not An Exact Science

However, this approach has some drawbacks. First of all, the water may boil at a different time depending on the container you put it in. These times should be adequate if you use a typical ceramic coffee mug. The water boiling in a glass makes it simpler to see, though. Simply use a thick glass, such as a glass measuring cup, and the outcomes should be the same as with your coffee cup.

The Amps And The Watts

It might be a slightly different situation if you are worried about how many amps your microwave oven uses because of your circuits. No matter what circuit you use, you should never load it above 80% of its capacity. So, if you have a 1,000-watt microwave oven that pulls in 1,700 watts, you cannot use a 15-amp circuit.

The amps and volts are multiplied to get the maximum wattage that can be used in a circuit. The highest number of watts that a 15-amp circuit on 120 volts can produce is 1,800. Moreover, 1,440 is 80% of 1,800. A 1,000-watt microwave oven cannot be powered by that. If you use a 20-amp circuit, the maximum watts is 1,920 so that would be enough for a 1,000-watt microwave oven.

Furthermore, a 1,500-watt microwave will consume roughly 2,550 watts when operating at full capacity. You will require a 30-amp circuit to accommodate a microwave oven with that much power. A 30-amp circuit can provide 3,600 watts but since you can only use 80% of that power, the maximum output would be 2,880 watts.

How Should The Amps Draw Be Calculated?

The figures mentioned above are just for your information, you can calculate the current (amps) drawn by a microwave yourself using a simple formula:

You will need to be aware of your country’s input current and standard wall voltage in order to use this formula. Once more, the standard voltage in the US is 120 V, while it is 220 V in Europe and Asia.

This equation’s versatility makes it ideal for use with all electrical appliances. The input current of the appliance is essentially all you need to know. In any case, voltage is generally known.

When calculating the current drawn, it is crucial that you use the INPUT CURRENT value rather than the OUTPUT POWER value.

Input and Output Power

As with all devices, microwave ovens have two power ratings: input current and output power.

You’ll also observe that a microwave’s output power is considerably less than its input current.

Because no electrical device is 100% efficient, this is true. The efficiency of microwave ovens is around 65%. 6.5 percent of the energy used (the input current) is converted into microwave energy (the output power).

For instance, a 700W microwave oven, which is the least powerful class of microwave for home use, consumes approximately 1100 Watts of power if it operates at a typical efficiency of 65%.

Let’s look at some typical input and output power values. In this case, 65% efficiency is used to calculate the output power value.

• 1100 W Input – 700 W Output
• 1350 W Input – 900 W Output
• 1700 W Input – 1100 W Output

It should be noted that efficiency varies from model to model. Some are more effective than others at converting input current into microwave energy.

A typical output power for the strongest class of microwave ovens for home use is 1250 W. Around 1850W would be required to run these.

The important thing to remember in this situation is that you must use the much higher Input current value when calculating the amps. The amp drawn would increase as the power did.

High Watt Vs. Low Watt Microwaves

How do you decide between the 600-watt and the 1200-watt microwaves when you’re in the store looking at them?

To assist you in making the best purchase choice, become familiar with the key distinctions between high-wattage and low-wattage microwaves.

800 Watts Or More: Pros And Cons Of High Wattage Microwaves

Pros: People who are hungry and impatient prefer high-watt microwaves because they cook food more quickly.

Additionally, the short cooking time reduces the risk of becoming ill after consuming undercooked food.

You don’t need to flip your food in order to fully reheat it because the food cooks more evenly.

Cons: High wattage microwaves are more expensive and use up more of your electrical outlets’ power.

Less Than 800 Watts: Pros And Cons Of Low Wattage Microwaves

Pros: Microwaves that use less power operate more effectively and cost less to operate.

Furthermore, they are less expensive up front and won’t put too much stress on any lower amperage wiring you might find in an RV or boat.

Cons: You will have to wait a lot longer for your food, which will cut into the savings from operating more effectively.

Uncooked food may also be served to people, which can cause illness.

How Does A Microwave Operate?

A magnetron inside the microwave converts electricity from the power source into strong radio waves. The food is then induced to rotate and release thermal energy as a result of the polar molecules therein. It’s that simple.

Online resources can provide more details about how this appliance functions. Don’t forget to look them up.

Buy The Proper Microwave For Your Home

A high-wattage microwave (800 watts or more) in a color that complements the other kitchen appliances is what you should choose when furnishing your home kitchen.

You should also think about the microwave’s dimensions and features.

There is no denying the value of extra kitchen space.

However, a small microwave might not be able to accommodate larger plates, and cramming a large plate into a small microwave can be dangerous.

Choose the ideal microwave for you by looking at the following sizes.

• Compact: up to 0.8 cubic feet
• Mid-size: up to 1.3 cubic feet
• Family size: up to 1.6 cubic feet
• Full size: up to 2 cubic feet

Pro Tip: Instead of leaving your microwave on the counter where it would take up extra room, think about mounting it on the wall to create more room.

Finally, your microwave ought to include every feature you require or desire.

Most microwaves have quick buttons, timers, and lights.

Modern features on new models include self-adjusting temperature settings to keep food juicy, removable racks, and Bluetooth compatibility.

See more about:

• Can You Put Glass In Microwave
• Can You Microwave Plastic Wrap
• Can You Microwave Pyrex?
• Can You Microwave Parchment Paper?

Electrical Circuit Requirements For A Microwave

You must provide the necessary feed for your plants in order to keep them alive. Your microwave oven operates similarly. Your microwave oven is likely to stop working if it does not receive the necessary amperage for its input power rating.

However, you are not very knowledgeable about microwave amperage. Don’t worry; I’ll show you exactly how many amps a microwave uses right here and now. So please follow along.

An average microwave will require 5 amps to run. But as I already said, everything buzzes because of its input power. So let’s get to work.

Here’s a simple way to know how many amps does a microwave pull– divide the By the voltage of the circuit, calculate the microwave wattage. But allow me to give you an illustration of how easy it is.

15 amps will be required for a microwave with 1500 watts and 100 volts. Specifically, the 1500 watts by the 100 volts. Get it?

There are no fixed microwave amps– Different sizes and wattages of microwaves are available. For further illustration, we’ve chosen a few popular microwaves.

• 1500 watt Microwave

It will be improper to use 5 amps with a 1500 watt, 120 volt microwave. The problem is that your 1500 watt microwave requires 12.5 amps to operate properly.

Why does this matter, then? A 16-gauge wire that is 12.5 amps in capacity should be connected to your 1500 watt microwave.

• 110 watts Microwave

For a 1000 watt microwave with 110 volts, the same methods as above will require 10 amps.

In other words, wattage is calculated by dividing by volts. It is as easy as it sounds.

• 700 watts Microwave

The same method is used to determine the amperage in a microwave, which uses up to 5.83 amps with 120 volts.

Types Of Microwave

With respect to wattage, cost, and size, there are three distinct types of microwaves. Check them out.

Convection Microwave

The conventional microwave supports both solo and grill cooking. A convection microwave also allows you to bake cake, bread, and cookies.

It has inverter technology, smart cooking, and sensor re-heating.

A convection Microwave typically runs between 800 watts and 1700 watts that allow you to measure the microwave amp draw.

Solo Microwave

It’s a simple microwave oven that can be used for everything from cooking noodles to re-heating drinks and food. It cannot be used for many options, such as the convection microwave.

It’s missing fundamental features and design. Additionally, the wattage varies from 500 to 1500 watts. The most fascinating part is right here. It includes a child lock to help shield children from burns.

Grill Microwave

A grill microwave performs all the functions of a regular microwave plus the ability to grill. This implies that you can use your grill Microwave to cook pizza, fish, and chicken. 900 to 1700 watts are used roughly.

The grill Microwave can be activated by pressing its button, but here’s the thing. It lacks an automatic grilling feature.

Tips For Cooking Food Safely In A Microwave

Would you like to prepare the best microwaveable meals in town?

To make your food from the microwave as enticing as possible, learn these straightforward tips and tricks.

Read the directions carefully before putting food in the microwave to find out how long it will take to cook in a microwave of a particular wattage.

The cooking times for different wattages are frequently provided on labels.

The amount of electrons present in an electrical circuit is measured in amps (amperes).

However, amperage and voltage work together to create the output, with higher amperage typically corresponding to more power.

To adjust the cooking time appropriately, use your understanding of microwave wattage.

In some cases, you might even have a microwave that lets you change the wattage, allowing you to perfectly follow cooking instructions at any wattage.

What Foods Not To Cook In Microwave

Contrary to popular belief, a microwave cannot cook everything.

Despite the fact that the World Food Organization has approved microwaves as safe, some foods don’t cook properly in them.

In addition to having a chance of exploding, the food might also taste off.

Foods not to cook in the microwave include:

• Hot peppers
• Leafy greens
• Grapes
• Breast Milk

Cover Food Rightly

Before heating food in microwave-safe containers, make sure it is securely covered for painless cooking.

Additionally to preserving moisture in your food, doing this will stop annoying microwave splatter.

Use plastic wrap in its place if you don’t have a cover.

Create Ventilation

Packaging should not be confused with coverage.

It is necessary to puncture the packaging of anything that will be heated in the microwave in order to create ventilation.

If ventilation isn’t made, the package might explode from being over-pressurized.

Using the microwave should not involve covering the vent, either.

Don’t Run Microwave While Empty

Avoid using the microwave without anything inside.

Without food to absorb the heat produced by the microwave, the energy has nowhere to go and builds up until it might reach a point where the microwave is damaged.

Never Run Microwave With Unlatched Door

It’s possible for radiation to enter your home if the microwave door isn’t completely closed.

You may experience burns or vision issues following prolonged exposure to high electromagnetic radiation levels.

Over the course of the device’s life, federal regulations cap leakage at 5 mW per square centimeter.

Use the microwave only when it is properly fixed or replaced if you notice an open door or radiation leakage.

FAQs

The Bottom Line

The wattage of the microwave is directly inversely proportional to the ampacity, but the majority of microwaves use about 10 amps.

More potent microwaves heat food faster, but they might not function properly in buildings with low amperage circuits, like a shed or boat.

However, the majority of houses will have enough amperage to support a standard residential microwave without any issues.

Many thanks for reading.