So, you’re having an inflatable delivered to your house and have been told that you need “110v 20amp circuit(s)” to power the blower(s) for the inflatable or your game/concession item. What does this mean? We will break this down for you:
(A-1 Employees are not licensed electricians but these are questions we have gotten over the years.)
- What is a circuit? – “An electrical circuit is a closed loop that allows electricity to flow from a power source to various devices and appliances in your home. It consists of a power source (usually the electrical panel), conductors (wires), a load (appliances, lights, outlets), and control devices such as switches or circuit breakers.”
- Is an outlet the same as a circuit? – No.
- Multiple outlets can be on a single circuit. You need a full 110v/120v 20amp circuit to power the blower for the inflatable. So, you would need to check the Circuit Breaker Box/Electric Panel that labels each circuit in your building/house to figure out how many circuits you have in the particular area you are wanting to set up. (See Diagram below for an example of the circuit breaker and different circuits there could be in a building/house. Each colored line is a circuit.)
- Here is an optional video that goes more in to detail about outlets and knowing how many outlets are on one Circuit as well as GFCI breaker information: How to Identify the Order of Outlets on an Electrical Circuit | Determine Outlets Wired to a Breaker >
- Multiple outlets can be on a single circuit. You need a full 110v/120v 20amp circuit to power the blower for the inflatable. So, you would need to check the Circuit Breaker Box/Electric Panel that labels each circuit in your building/house to figure out how many circuits you have in the particular area you are wanting to set up. (See Diagram below for an example of the circuit breaker and different circuits there could be in a building/house. Each colored line is a circuit.)
- Will a 3-prong outlet work for the blower to be plugged in to? – Yes. Our blowers and extension cords have 3-prong standard plug.
- Will A-1 Rental Supply Extension Cords? – We supply a single 50 ft extension cord with each inflatable.
- Can I use my own extension cords for the blower if it’s too far from the outlet/generator? – Yes, but we do not suggest using more than 100ft of extension cords to and from the blower as this causes a loss in voltage due to the distance it has to travel from the power source (outlet or generator). (See chart below for Cord Gauges and the max voltage drop per distance.)
- Will any extension cord work for this? – (See chart above.) You will need to use one that is at least the same thickness as the cord for the blower, we recommend a 12- or 10-gauge cord. (Watch the Video Below for examples of voltage drop with different gauge size in extension cords.)
- Can I get a generator from you, if I don’t have the electric? – Yes, we can add on a generator to your contract for however many circuits you are needing! Our generators will be filled with gas and are guaranteed for 4 hours of use max. Any additional time after 4 hours means you would have to provide the gas to fill it once it runs low.
***Give us a call if you have additional questions about this at 513-761-4386!***
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