The discussion clarifies that the 15-watt rating of the oven fan motor refers to its input power, not output power. Participants agree that input power is typically easier to measure for electrical devices, as output power is often not clearly labeled. The conversation highlights the importance of labeling input power to prevent circuit overloads and emphasizes that output power measurements can be ambiguous and less reliable.
PREREQUISITESElectrical engineers, appliance manufacturers, safety regulators, and anyone involved in the design or evaluation of electrical devices will benefit from this discussion.
For pretty well every kind of machine, the input power is much easier to measure, for a start. Even steam engines have measurable cylinder dimensions and boiler pressure but it's anyones guess how well it will pull trucks up a hill or plough a field. 'Horse Power' used to be based more on a salesman's promise than anything else.DaveE said:Yes, it's input power in normal operation.