Are printers and copiers part of the noncontinuous load in doing a feeder calculation

[mshields]

For the purposes of a feeder calculation, are printers and copyers considered noncontinuous loads such that the receptacles they are plugged into do not have the 180VA per duplex associated with them?

And assuming that they are, could you make an argument for including the myriad PC’s that are permanently plugged into receptacles part of the non-continuous load too.

Does it matter that the receptacles are dedicated or not

 

[petersonra]

I don't see anywhere in the NEC that says an appliance plugged into a receptacle has to be counted as anything special. How would one even know what someone will plug in to it?

Having said that, it makes a lot of sense to have a bunch of circuits where you know people will be plugging in computers, printers, heaters, etc., even if it is not required. I would not be changing the calculated load though to account for what someone "might" do in the future.

 

[Flicker Index]

It makes sense to have a printer on its own circuit so it won't disturb other loads. In an effort to conserve standby kWh consumption while keeping warm-up time short, laser printers have high wattage heaters that are cycled with solid state relays very rapidly and they cause enough sudden drop to make some UPS flip out and switch over to battery if on the same circuit.

 

[petersonra]

It makes sense to have a printer on its own circuit so it won't disturb other loads. In an effort to conserve standby kWh consumption while keeping warm-up time short, laser printers have high wattage heaters that are cycled with solid state relays very rapidly and they cause enough sudden drop to make some UPS flip out and switch over to battery if on the same circuit.

Why would being on the same circuit "disturb" other loads? Everything is basically on the same wire anyway.

No one said anything about any UPS's that might or might not be there.

 

[hbiss]

It makes sense to have a printer on its own circuit so it won't disturb other loads. In an effort to conserve standby kWh consumption while keeping warm-up time short, laser printers have high wattage heaters that are cycled with solid state relays very rapidly and they cause enough sudden drop to make some UPS flip out and switch over to battery if on the same circuit.

Back in the old days that might make sense because laser copiers and printers did have high wattage heaters. I remember one time chasing flickering lights back to a copier/printer. Even at idle, the heater used to cycle causing the flicker. As I remember, even putting it on a dedicated circuit didn't do much.

Now everything is energy efficient and those problems are over.

-Hal