Circuits per bedroom

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darrenh

Member
Location
Louisiana
I've talked to a lot of residential installers and they've all said they bring at least 2 circuits to a bedroom. Not dedicated circuits the circuits also feed other bedrooms. I can't find anything in the NEC that says you can't bring just one circuit to a bedroom and feed ltgs and rec in that room. That way you have one circuit per room would make trouble shooting easier.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
There's no NEC requirements about the number of DU bedroom circuits. Minimum is one, everything else is a design choice.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Totally design choice. I generally have at least two but is because I will generally put fixed lighting loads on 15 amp circuits and receptacle outlets on 20 amp circuits. Each circuit will generally feed more then one room also, receptacles on a common wall will often be same circuit on both sides even of other receptacles in a particular room are on another circuit.
 

jumper

Senior Member
Total load is all that matters. There is nothing that requires a room by room breakdown.

Okay, that is what I mean total load.

1100 sq ft bedroom.

1100x 3VA=3300

How many 20A circuits?

210.11
(A) Number of Branch Circuits. The minimum number
of branch circuits shall be determined from the total calculated
load and the size or rating of the circuits used. In all
installations, the number of circuits shall be sufficient to
supply the load served. In no case shall the load on any
circuit exceed the maximum specified by 220.18.
 

jumper

Senior Member
That's only for the service calculation.

Yes, but it applies to minimum amount of circuits needed also.

Here is an example from the annex.

Example D1(a) One-Family Dwelling

The dwelling has a floor area of 1500 ft2, exclusive of an unfinished cellar not
adaptable for future use, unfinished attic, and open porches. Appliances are a
12-kW range and a 5.5-kW, 240-V dryer. Assume range and dryer kW ratings
equivalent to kVA ratings in accordance with 220.54 and 220.55.

Calculated Load [see 220.40]
General Lighting Load 1500 ft2 at 3 VA/ft2 = 4500 VA
Minimum Number of Branch Circuits Required [see 210.11(A)]
General Lighting Load: 4500 VA ? 120 V = 38 A
This requires three 15-A, 2-wire or two 20-A, 2-wire circuits.

Small-Appliance Load: Two 2-wire, 20-A circuits [see 210.11(C)(1)]
Laundry Load: One 2-wire, 20-A circuit [see 210.11(C)(2)]
Bathroom Branch Circuit: One 2-wire, 20-A circuit (no additional load
calculation is required for this circuit) [see 210.11(C)(3)]
 

ActionDave

Chief Moderator
Staff member
Location
Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
Occupation
Licensed Electrician
Okay, that is what I mean total load.

1100 sq ft bedroom.

1100x 3VA=3300

How many 20A circuits?

210.11
(A) Number of Branch Circuits. The minimum number
of branch circuits shall be determined from the total calculated
load and the size or rating of the circuits used. In all
installations, the number of circuits shall be sufficient to
supply the load served. In no case shall the load on any
circuit exceed the maximum specified by 220.18.
Number of branch circuits required is a number that can not be disputed.

I can break up lighting circuits however I want. Nobody can make me run one or more lighting circuits to any one room in the house. Well my boss can kinda.... because he can fire me. The inspector can't though.
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
"Nobody can make me run one or more lighting circuits to any one room in the house"
Got that right !
and there is another truism....
Nobody can make me put an "Approved" tag on that meter :)
 

jumper

Senior Member
Number of branch circuits required is a number that can not be disputed.

I can break up lighting circuits however I want. Nobody can make me run one or more lighting circuits to any one room in the house. Well my boss can kinda.... because he can fire me. The inspector can't though.

I think I am seeing your point. I reread that section carefully and it is not saying what I thought it did.

Oops.:ashamed1:
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Total load is all that matters. There is nothing that requires a room by room breakdown.


I agree but if the code requires a 3 watts/sq.ft how would you wire a 1000 sq.ft room with one circuit. I understand that a 20x15 room can have as many receptacles as needed however if the room is calculated at 3000 watts it seems 2 circuits are required.
 

Sierrasparky

Senior Member
Location
USA
Occupation
Electrician ,contractor
I agree but if the code requires a 3 watts/sq.ft how would you wire a 1000 sq.ft room with one circuit. I understand that a 20x15 room can have as many receptacles as needed however if the room is calculated at 3000 watts it seems 2 circuits are required.


Load evenly proportioned, definately into play in that case.
 
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