Will your gear run on a storage unit outlet?
Most storage unit outlets are on a 15 or 20 amp, 120 volt circuit. Tick what you plan to plug in to see roughly what it needs.
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Tick what you plan to plug in. We add it up as if it all runs at the same time.
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A rough guide only, not electrical advice. The facility's rules and its electrician decide what you can plug in. Each figure is the rating of one common model, and yours may differ, so check the label on your own gear. Ask the facility what the outlet's circuit is rated for and what you may run.
How it works
- A standard breaker should carry no more than 80% of its rating for loads that run 3 hours or more. We size anything that runs for hours at 125% of its draw, which is the same thing. Source: se.com ("The 80% (standard-rated) breaker can only be applied continuously (defined as 3 hours or more by the NEC) at 80% of its continuous current rating").
- Watts equal volts times amps. Storage unit outlets are 120 volts, so we multiply amps by 120 when a maker lists only amps. Source: pubs.ext.vt.edu ("If the wattage is not listed on the appliance, you can still estimate it by finding the current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the voltage used by the appliance. Most appliances in the United States use 120 volts.").
- A load that needs more than 20 amps, or a maker that says it needs a 240 volt outlet, needs more than a storage unit outlet usually gives.
- Storage facilities often limit what you may run, even when the outlet can handle it. Ask before you plug in anything that heats, cools, or runs all day.
Where each figure comes from
Each item is one common model, using the figure its maker lists. Yours may draw more or less, so check the label on your own gear.
| Item | Model | Listed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone charger | Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter | 20 watts | apple.com "20W USB-C Power Adapter" |
| Laptop charger | Apple 70W USB-C Power Adapter (Model A2743) | 70 watts | apple.com "70W USB-C Power Adapter" |
| LED work light | Westinghouse 5000 Lumen Corded COB LED Work Light | 55 watts | westinghouse.com "corded 55-watt COB LED design" |
| Mini fridge (runs for hours) | Danby 3.1 cu. ft. Compact Fridge DCR031B1WDD (spec sheet) | 110 watts | assets.skulytics.io "Wattage 110 W" |
| Chest freezer (runs for hours) | Danby 5.0 cu. ft. Chest Freezer DCF050A6WM (spec sheet) | 1.2 amps (138 watts listed) | danby.com "Amperage 1.2 A; Wattage 138 W" |
| Dehumidifier (runs for hours) | Frigidaire 50 Pint Dehumidifier FHDD5033W1 | 8.5 amps (545 watts listed) | frigidaire.ca "Amps: 8.5 Amps; Watts: 545 Watts" |
| Air compressor | California Air Tools 8010, 1.0 HP, 8 gallon | 8.5 amps | californiaairtools.com "Low Amp Draw, 8.5 Amps" |
| Shop vac | Shop-Vac 12 Gallon 5.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum (8251205) | 11.6 amps | shopvac.com "120V 60Hz 11.6 Amps" |
| Level 1 EV charging (runs for hours) | Schumacher SEV1670 Level 1 Portable EV Charger | 12 amps | schumacherelectric.com "this versatile charger can supply up to 12 amps of charging power using a standard NEMA 5-15 120-volt AC household outlet." |
| Circular saw | DEWALT DWE575 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw | 15 amps | dewalt.com "15 amp motor, powerful enough for even the toughest applications" |
| Table saw | DEWALT DWE7491RS 10 in. Jobsite Table Saw | 15 amps | dewalt.com "15 amp motor quickly rips through hardwoods with ease" |
| Welder (120V MIG) | Hobart Handler 140 (spec sheet) | 20 amps | m.media-amazon.com "Amps Input at Rated Output (115 V): 20. Capable of operating on standard 115/120 volt, 20 amp home circuits" |
Phone and laptop chargers are listed by their output rating, since the maker gives no input figure. Their draw from the wall is a little higher.
To find storage with power near you, start from the home page or read do storage units have outlets.