How is the total connected load calculated?

The total connected load is calculated by summing the wattages of all connected devices and equipment. This method provides an accurate representation of the total electrical demand that could potentially be drawn by a system if all devices were operating simultaneously. Each device's wattage rating reflects its consumption of electrical power, and by totaling these ratings, one can determine the maximum load that the electrical system must be designed to handle.

Other options do not accurately reflect how the total connected load is determined. Dividing total voltage by total current yields the overall system impedance or current, but does not account for the individual loads connected. Determining the peak load during a specified period or averaging the loads over time may be relevant for different analyses, such as load profiling or demand calculations, but they do not provide a precise calculation of the total connected load. Hence, the correct approach involves simply adding the wattages of each connected load to arrive at the total connected load.