Minimum load @ 240-volt circuit

[2SIN54]

Good morning,

I was looking in my code book (2011 edition) recently on various subjects, and came across some text that read . . . minimum load on a 240-volt branch circuit is 12-ampere . . .

Now i'm wondering what exactly that was referring to but can't find it again. Of course right!, now that I'm actually looking for it I can't find it :blink:!

Any ideas?

 

[david luchini]

Good morning,

I was looking in my code book (2011 edition) recently on various subjects, and came across some text that read . . . minimum load on a 240-volt branch circuit is 12-ampere . . .

Now i'm wondering what exactly that was referring to but can't find it again. Of course right!, now that I'm actually looking for it I can't find it :blink:!

Any ideas?

I don't believe the Code says anything like that. You're not thinking of the minimum #14 conductor size in 310.106(A) are you?

 

[2SIN54]

No not that. Im trying to remember what article it was in etc. I spend a lot of time in the code book as relates to dwellings and sometimes get lost on a tangent looking at commercial/industrial stuff . . .

When i came across it I thought wow I don't remember seeing that before, was gonna make a note of where it was but got "distracted" by some other parts of the code I was researching.

 

[roger]

No not that. Im trying to remember what article it was in etc. I spend a lot of time in the code book as relates to dwellings and sometimes get lost on a tangent looking at commercial/industrial stuff . . .

When i came across it I thought wow I don't remember seeing that before, was gonna make a note of where it was but got "distracted" by some other parts of the code I was researching.

It's not there, you read it wrong or read something out of context. There are probably billions of 240V branch circuits feeding very small loads.

Roger

 

[zbang]

I suppose that technically there is a minimum load, but that minimum is zero ; no negative loads (they become supplies).

 

[david luchini]

No not that. Im trying to remember what article it was in etc. I spend a lot of time in the code book as relates to dwellings and sometimes get lost on a tangent looking at commercial/industrial stuff . . .

When i came across it I thought wow I don't remember seeing that before, was gonna make a note of where it was but got "distracted" by some other parts of the code I was researching.

I agree with Roger. It's not in there.


12A is the maximum cord-and-plug load permitted on a 15A receptacle, on a branch circuit with two or more receptacles or outlets (210.21(B)(2)). Maybe that was it.

 

[david luchini]

Or maybe you were thinking of 210.6(A)(2), which doesn't say what you were thinking, but does have a 12A reference.

 

[Jraef]

Are you maybe thinking of wording in Article 220 for Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Service Calculations? Minimum AMOUNTS of load are mentioned in that process.

 

[2SIN54]

I agree there doesn't seem to be any logic to it, but man its driving me nuts..

I looked at 210.6(A)(2) but it wasn't that either. Just weird ya know. Maybe I'll stumble across it again :?

 

[roger]

Maybe I'll stumble across it again :?

Don't hold your breath.

Roger

 

[roger]

BTW, what would we do for small motors? Start at Table 430.248 and the Tables following it and note how many 240 V motors are less than 12 amps. That would mean couldn't have single small 240 V motors fed from a branch circuit.


Roger