laundry circuit usage

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shelco

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In a laundry area the code states that at least one 20 a circ. shall be provided for laundry
receptacle outlet(s). no other outlets shall be on this circuit.
My interp. of this is the circuit is to service the laundry area and no other areas. That being said could the laundry circ be used to supply power to a 13 watt fluor light for the laundry room?
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

No, the code says at least one "receptacle outlet" and then it says no other outlets.

Unless the light is cord and plug connected....
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

Steve it does say receptacle outlet(s) But I agree with your interpretation as the reason for the (s) on the end is many washer and dryers are not next to each other and even if they are, a duplex receptacle is considered two receptacles. But when applying this requirement we still have to use 210.23(A) which the exception states that the circuit can only supply "receptacle outlets" so lights are out of the question. :D
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

However, most kitchens require 4 20 amp receptacle circuits and most laundry areas require 2 such circuits. How I know that is that I had to add extra circuits to parents' house in 1984. Did the same to their next house in 1989.

That said, the National Electrical Code requirement is obsolete because of microwave ovens and so forth. There are only so many George Forman grills that 2 circuits can support. Same goes for running an iron while the washer is running.

What was "great" about Federal Pacific, Wadsworth, and Zinsco circuit breakers was that after a few years they would develop arthritis and allow 30 to 35 amps on a 20 amp breaker, not that the Underwriters Laboratories trip accuracy requirement is rather sloppy.
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

I have always took the required receptacle in the laundry room to be the washer receptacle(the nec wants us to be clean) That said it can not be a duplex since we have to have a receptacle that is equal to the ampacity of the circuit unless you use a 20 amp duplex ,(we dont stock those just regular old 15`s)So install a single round 20 and done deal :D
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

allenwayne,

Where does it say that the laundry area would require two circuits? And how do I plug in my washer and dryer into a single receptacle? 210.11(C)(2) requires one 20 ampere branch circuit for the laundry area and states that it can supply the "laundry receptacle outlet(s)" as long as it supplies no other outlets. This could be one 15 ampere duplex on a single 20 ampere circuit.

[ March 24, 2005, 05:16 AM: Message edited by: infinity ]
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

We recently had a thread on this in the "Proposals for 2008 NEC" section of the forum entitled "What is a laundry circuit?". Check that thread out - there are some interesting suggestions in it.
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

Originally posted by mc5w:
However, most kitchens require 4 20 amp receptacle circuits and most laundry areas require 2 such circuits. How I know that is that I had to add extra circuits to parents' house in 1984. Did the same to their next house in 1989.

That said, the National Electrical Code requirement is obsolete because of microwave ovens and so forth. There are only so many George Forman grills that 2 circuits can support. Same goes for running an iron while the washer is running.

What was "great" about Federal Pacific, Wadsworth, and Zinsco circuit breakers was that after a few years they would develop arthritis and allow 30 to 35 amps on a 20 amp breaker, not that the Underwriters Laboratories trip accuracy requirement is rather sloppy.
Click to expand...
I was responding to this post and was not saying there are 2 required circuits.
( and most laundry areas require 2 circuits) :D
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

By Allen: That said it can not be a duplex since we have to have a receptacle that is equal to the ampacity of the circuit
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Not true.
A duplex is two receptacles not a single receptacle. It can be a 15 amp rated duplex.

210.21(B)(1) Single Receptacle on an Individual Branch Circuit. A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating not less than that of the branch circuit.
Click to expand...
From 100 Definitions
Receptacle. A receptacle is a contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug. A single receptacle is a single contact device with no other contact device on the same yoke . A multiple receptacle is two or more contact devices on the same yoke.
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Table 210.21(B)(3) clearly allow a 15 amp duplex on a 20 amp circuit.

Each receptacle on a duplex is rated for the full 15 amps, Any appliance that requires a 20 amp circuit will have a 20 plug which will have the hot blade turned sideways. Washers and dryers do not have this and can be pluged into a 15 amp receptacle as long as it is fed by a 20 amp circuit. :D
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

I would agree with Hurk27 that a 15 amp duplex is allowed on a 20 amp circuit, but a 20 amp plug would have it's neutral sideways not the hot leg.
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

George He is correct as it is the neutral that is sideways. The receptacle that your showing is a combo 20 amp/15amp 250 volt receptacle.
NEMA 6-20R

:D
19024_sm.jpg
NEMA 5-15R/6-15R
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

Ha!

My son asked me today, what people live on Pluto and Saturn and the other Planets. My wife told him people like me :cool:
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

I was trying to make a point between what National Electrical Code requires and what people really need.

There is also an NEC requirement that when branch circuit or feeders are overloaded you have to increase capacity. Therefore, that most people need twice as many kitchen and laundry circuits as what NEC explicitly requires could be interpreted by the overloaded circuit clause to mandate 4 circuits in the kitchen and 2 in the laundry.

One possible selling point is that you have twice as many receptacle circuits as what NEC requires which would impress people as being a superior system. You still have to install the same amount of receptacles a wire between them just a difference in the number of home runs and circuit breakers. People are willing to pay more for a better car with a bigger engine - why not sell a house as having a heftier electrical system.

That is not to say that economy cars and skimpy electrical systems will go out of style any time soon.

[ March 27, 2005, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: mc5w ]
 
Re: laundry circuit usage

Just learned what the edit button looks like.

[ March 27, 2005, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: mc5w ]
 
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