Home > Lighting Fixtures Information > Lighting Fixtures Questions > Is it okay to use a regular switched receptacle, intended for lighting fixtures, for flat ironing?

Is it okay to use a regular switched receptacle, intended for lighting fixtures, for flat ironing?

I installed a new receptacle by tapping from a switched 15 amp 110 volt junction box... Would this be a potential fire hazard when used for flat ironing or any high-amp device?

Public Comments

  1. it should be fine. it would trip the breaker before overloading to much. 15 amp isnt that high.
  2. The average hand iron is 1000 to 1200 watts. That works out to 9 to 11 amps. Your circuit is more than adequate.
  3. No, it should not be a fire hazard assuming that the wires are properly terminated. I would think that having an iron on a switched outlet would be a good thing since you could turn off the switch instead of unplugging the iron. The only other issue that I can think of is how much current is being drawn elsewhere in the rest of the circuit.
  4. You should have absolutely no problem using your iron on that outlet, like the other user said it works out to be about 9-11 amps, it would also be a good safety measure because you wouldn't have to second guess yourself as to whether or not you unplugged the iron, you would just turn the switch off.