Number of outlets allowed on one circuit for office

[LarryFine]

I have yet to see an NEC rule that specifies a limit on the quantity of receptacles on a G.P. circuit. Not the allowance for load or service calculations, but a specific limit on the actual receptacle count.

To me, the leap from calculations to installations is an inference at best, but you're always allowed to adopt it as your limit if you wish. If there was a hard limit, wouldn't it be spelled out in Art. 406?

 

[infinity]

I was just noting the strip is basically one yoke. What if the outlet was just a jbox for a hard wired strip? The strip then becomes what, "equipment"?

And btw, the MH diagram is not correct. Words do matter. That pic shows 26 receptacles on 13 yokes (2 per yoke, aka duplex recept). The correct words should be "13 strapped duplex receptacles".

And, the calculation being used appears to be "per yoke", which is why the other verbiage says "single or multiple receptacles". So in essence, per yoke seem to be the better word to use.

Looks like he left out a word, he should have used the words duplex receptacles instead of just receptacles.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Those rules are based on length of the yoke? What if two strips are daisy chained with the cord or hardwired interconnect being 8ft?

What? It is based on the length of the plugmold or whatever brand assembly you use. You wouldn't count the 8' of conduit between the plugmold units. Cord would not be acceptable as a permanent installation so I would not even address that.

 

[FionaZuppa]

Looks like he left out a word, he should have used the words duplex receptacles instead of just receptacles.

Would that still be valid if the "13 duplex receptacles" were not strapped? To me the calculation is per yoke with an understanding from the NEC verbiage that the yoke has one or more receptacles, AND, if it's more than one they would all be strapped together.

How does the verbiage apply if it's a MWBC, like one pole for all the uppers, and the other pole for the lowers of duplex yokes? If the ocpd's were were 20A would it then be 360VA per duplex yoke?

Could is also be a triplex yoke in MWBC where only two of the three were strapped?

 

[480sparky]

Mike Holt says 13.

StackPath

Wierd. I see 26 outlets.

 

[texie]

Wierd. I see 26 outlets.

The rule is 180 VA per yoke. 220.14(I). This is 13 receps.

 

[infinity]

The rule is 180 VA per yoke. 220.14(I). This is 13 receps.

The graphic has 13 yokes but 26 receptacles or 13 duplex receptacles.

 

[480sparky]

The rule is 180 VA per yoke. 220.14(I). This is 13 receps.

Yes, I see 13 duplex receptacles. I still see 26 outlets. "Outlet" ≠ "Receptacle".

 

[FionaZuppa]

Wierd. I see 26 outlets.

Haha you prankster. There's only 7 outlets there, 13 duplex yokes (26 receptacles).

The rule is 180 VA per yoke. 220.14(I). This is 13 receps.

13 duplex yokes = 26 recepts.

I am not sure it's just a per yoke rule, the MH pic says "per ckt", reads more like "per ckt 180VA per yoke". Where does that leave MWBC's?

The MH pic is also not accuarte when it says "180VA per recept (strap)". Kinda bad words here. There are 26 recepts there, so 26x180VA exceeds the 20Ax120VA. It should just say "180VA per yoke" (in that example, etc). Why? Because what if it was a triplex yoke, does that mean you can only have 8 triplexes + one duplex? That does not jive with the verbiages of "single or multiple receptacles". So yeah, does appear to be a 180VA per yoke rule, but what if the the yoke recepts were not strapped?

 

[480sparky]

Haha you prankster. There's only 7 outlets there, 13 duplex yokes (26 receptacles)....

No, there are 7 boxes.

 

[david luchini]

No, there are 7 boxes.

7 Boxes...13 outlets...26 receptacles (13 receptacle outlets to be more specific)

 

[FionaZuppa]

No, there are 7 boxes.

It's an "outlet", a point on the BC from which you are taking power. The yokes take power from the BC.
Hard wiring a microwave into a box is wiring to an "outlet".

 

[FionaZuppa]

7 Boxes...13 outlets...26 receptacles (13 receptacle outlets to be more specific)

nope. An outlet is a point on the BC where you take the power. The yokes take the power from the BC from within the enclosure (aka, your word "box"). You don't need a box for there to be an outlet point, but NEC requires the box, etc.

 

[480sparky]

7 Boxes...13 outlets...26 receptacles (13 receptacle outlets to be more specific)

And a partridge in a pear tree.

 

[480sparky]

It's an "outlet", a point on the BC from which you are taking power. The yokes take power from the BC.
Hard wiring a microwave into a box is wiring to an "outlet".

According to your logic, then there's only ONE outlet. You would call it the breaker.

Simple fact: A duplex receptacle is two outlets.

 

[david luchini]

An outlet is a point on the BC where you take the power.

That is not the definition of "outlet"

 

[david luchini]

According to your logic, then there's only ONE outlet. You would call it the breaker.

Simple fact: A duplex receptacle is two outlets.

A duplex receptacle is one outlet...one "receptacle outlet."

 

[FionaZuppa]

According to your logic, then there's only ONE outlet. You would call it the breaker.

Simple fact: A duplex receptacle is two outlets.

No, the BC WIRING starts aft of the OCPD. The OCPD is a component of the BC, a "bump in the wire". Also, there is no power being taken off the BC wiring where such wire attaches to the OCPD. At that juncture the wire is merely carrying the power.

 

[FionaZuppa]

That is not the definition of "outlet"

I bet ya it is.

 

[480sparky]

No, the BC WIRING starts aft of the OCPD. The OCPD is a component of the BC.

I think you should actually get out a codebook and read the definition of outlet.