If you’re considering purchasing a range hood, you may wonder how many amps it pulls. After all, this is an important consideration when selecting a hood because the more amps it uses, the more energy it will consume. But how many amps does a range hood draw?
This article will teach you how many amps a range hood draws so you can make sure you make economical designs when purchasing your range hood.
About 5–7 amps are required to power your range hood. However, it’s flexible enough to use a dedicated circuit or a shared one with other, less powerful devices. To avoid tripping the circuit breaker, use a separate 20-amp circuit breaker only for the range hood to be safe.
What are amps?
Amp is an abbreviation of ampere, one of the standard units of measurement for electrical current. One ampere is a measurement of a steady flow of electricity. The “amperage” of a current is the unit of measurement for its intensity. Amps are the water in the analogy between electricity and a garden hose.
COSMO COS-63190S Wall Mount Range Hood
COSMO COS-63190S Wall Mount Range Hood
How many amps does a range hood draw?
Whether you hardwire your range hood or plug it into an outlet, you should be aware of the amps it consumes.
Even when selecting appliances to run alongside it, you must consider the amperage of the range hood. A range hood consumes 5 to 7 amps. You can connect it to a dedicated circuit or plug it into a shared outlet with other appliances. The appliances must have a lower power rating than the range hood.
It cannot, for example, power an electric stove, which requires 30 to 50 amps. However, you can connect an over-the-range microwave oven that draws only 5 to 10 amps.
Is a separate circuit required for a range hood?
No. Multiple appliances, including a range hood, may share a single circuit. However, avoiding circuit overload is of paramount importance. For example, say your range hood requires five amps to operate. Likewise, five to ten amperes are required to power a microwave.
Therefore, using a microwave and range hood together on the same circuit is often safe. You should consult the appliance’s instructions or a professional electrician before doing this.
Do not connect a range hood and an electric stove to the same 15- to 20-amp breaker. It’s safe to assume that the breaker would trip, given the 30-50 amp draw required by most electric ranges.
Does a range hood need to be grounded?
A range hood does not have to be grounded if it replaces an existing range hood and connects to an existing wiring circuit. However, while not required by code, installing a ground fault circuit interrupter is recommended to protect people from electric shock in case of a fault with the range hood.
While it is allowed by building code to replace a range hood without grounding it, it is quite hazardous if something were to happen to the range hood. Since most range hoods are made of metal, any loose wire inside can lead to an electric shock. Therefore, please do not do any wiring yourself. Instead, please refer to an electrician for more information.
If you want even more tips and insights, watch the video “How to Choose The Right Range Hood – 2021 Buyer’s Guide” from the Proline Range Hoods YouTube Channel.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do you still have questions? Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about range hood circuits.
What gauge wire do you need for a range hood?
A 14/2 or 12/2 gauge wire can typically be used to support a range hood. For example, if the appliance requires a 15-amp breaker, use a 14/2 gauge wire; if the appliance requires a 20-amp breaker, use a 12/2 gauge wire. If you’re unsure which wire to use for your amp breaker, a copper 12/2 is often sufficient.
How does a range hood work?
A range hood is a device to disperse cooking smoke and fumes from the user and into the air. It works by sucking in air from the room and turning it into a stream of air that is heated and forced out the top of the hood, where it can be dispersed. This ensures that the user and other people in the room are protected from harmful cooking fumes.
What is a range hood?
You might be surprised to learn that range hoods are a relatively new invention, dating back to 1937. This kitchen appliance was designed for a dirt-floored home in Dallas and is intended to improve air quality while cooking. The invention was changed and improved many times before it became the modern luxury appliance it is today.
Conclusion
By now, we hope that you know everything about range hoods. However, if you aren’t sure how many amps a range hood draws, this guide will help you understand everything. You can also check out the AMP rating of your current range hood to determine whether it’s safe to install.
This article covered a range hood, how it works, and how many amps it draws. Here are some key takeaways:
Key takeaways
- A range hood is a device to disperse cooking fumes from the user and into the air.
- A range hood consumes 5 to 7 amps.
- A range hood does not need an individual circuit and can be wired into the existing wiring system.
So, have you checked how many amps your range hood draws? And did I cover everything you wanted to know? Let me know in the comments section below (I read and reply to every comment). If you found this article helpful, check out my full blog for more tips and tricks in your kitchen. Thanks for reading, and stay safe.
