Lighting Power Calculator
Calculate total wattage, amperage, and circuit requirements for film lighting.
Inputs
W
V
hrs
Results
Total Wattage
2,600 W
≈ 3 microwaves
Total Amps21.67 A
Circuits Needed (20A)2
Energy per Day20.8 kWh
Heat Output8,871 BTU/hr
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Number of Lights you plan to use on set.
- Input Wattage per Light (W) — check the fixture spec sheet for accurate values.
- Set Voltage (V) — North America is typically 120 V; studio outlets may be 208 V or 240 V.
- Total Wattage (W) and Total Amps (A) tell you the combined electrical load.
- Circuits Needed shows how many 20-amp circuits to reserve so you do not trip breakers.
- Energy per Day (kWh) and Heat Output (BTU/hr) help with budget and HVAC planning.
How the result changes with Watts per Light
| Watts per Light | Total Wattage |
|---|---|
| 2,009 | 8,036 W |
| 7,007 | 28,028 W |
| 13,004 | 52,016 W |
| 18,001 | 72,004 W |
What each input means
- Number of Lights
- Total number of light fixtures on set.
- Watts per Light
- Power draw of each light fixture.
- Voltage
- Mains voltage (120V in US, 240V in UK/EU).
- Hours per Day
- Expected hours of use per shooting day.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersNumber of Lights = 4, Watts per Light = 650, Voltage = 120, Hours per Day = 8 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total WattageTotal Wattage2600 = 2600
- Calculate Total AmpsTotal Amps21.67 = 21.67
- Calculate Circuits NeededCircuits Needed2 = 2
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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