What wattage breaker needed for kiln?

[Nt3grals]

I am wanting to install a dedicated outlet specifically for just my kiln, so that I dont have to be worried about the breaker kicking off bcuz of an overload on the circuit. My question is, what size breaker should I install for it? I’ll probably wanna go on the higher end, so that if I ever needed to, I could use the outlet for another source too. My kiln is the Paragon Bluebird XL, & it has a 120 volt plug. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Eileen]

The plate on the outside of the kiln should have the information you need. I don't have that kiln, but looking it up online it uses 14 amps. My husband (who knows electricity) says you could probably be alright with a 15, but he would put in a 20.
.

[Speedslug]

Aye, I second the 20 amp circuit if you can.

While you're at run a another one right next to that one if it isn't too much trouble.

Never heard of anyone having too many separately fused outlets especially in a work room.

[HotglassBurns]

Yes, have built out studio with 8 kilns - 120 plug, I’d agree 20 amp breaker!!
BE CAREFUL electric boxes ARE LIVE!!

[rcktscientist]

Electricians often use an 80% limit rule of thumb.
A 20A circuit operating at 80% would provide 16A safely.
Using your 14A kiln, that would give you a nice little 2A margin, which at 120V is about 240W to be used at any other outlet on that circuit.

The 15A circuit would already be operating at around 93% capacity and that is generally frowned upon from an electrical safety standpoint. Plus no real margin so any additional draw would likely pop that breaker. That means with a kiln on the circuit, all other outlets on that circuit would be effectively useless.

Best of luck!

[Speedslug]

Aye and what doesn't actually pop the breaker WILL heat up any weak points on the circuit.

We had a hand full of Xmas lights on the porch but the circuit out there was fed by the tail end of the front parlor and all of them were wired beginning across one outlet bridge.
That bridge should have been 3 wires twisted together in the back of the outlet box instead of being tied to the one plug outlet and across a 1/8 inch piece of sheet brass.

It took me three days to notice the smell and another three to figure out where it was coming from.
In this 140 year old house, by all rights, it should have lit the fuse that would have burned the whole house down in 15 minutes.

My guardian angles have been working over time almost my entire life.

[Eileen]

Not worth taking chances when it comes to something that can cause a fire, that's for sure. My hubby was an electrician's mate/diver in the Navy, then worked for the power company until he retired and worked for an electrician neighbor for a year or so when retirement had him bored at first.
But his last 5 years with the power company he was a troubleshooter, and he said he was called to an amazing number of house fires that never make the news.