# of outlets on a circuit

[Dennis Alwon]

One way of thinking of residential load is by "load density" not VA load per receptacle,
By intersecting the NEC 3 VA per ft2 general branch circuit load with the 6-foot spacing rule, we can determine the "Venn-style" load density of a circuit. A 15A, 120V circuit (1800 VA) serves a maximum of 600 SQFT; in no case can a 15A branch circuit serve an area larger than this. As room geometry changes, the minimum number of required outlets shifts, causing the "implied load" per outlet to fluctuate based on available "wall space" (defined as any wall segment ≥2 feet). You could in theory construct a 600 SQFT space served by one receptacle so the maximum loads for a 600 SQFT area look something like;

Configuration​	Outlets Required​	Implied VA per Outlet​
Standard Square room​	8​	225 VA​
Circular Room​	7​	257 VA​
3-Sides Glass sun room​	2​	900 VA​
Modern house all glass roll up doors?​	1​	1800 VA​

I used to use that concept but if you separate your lights from receptacles or include them in the sq.ft design then you may have 2 different numbers.

The sq.ft with just receptacle loads is not how the NEC states to calculate it in homes. If you did sq.ft with both lights and receptacles it would make more sense but as Rob pointed out it isn't in the code that it should be done that way.

 

[tortuga]

Interesting concept but nowhere in the NEC is it required to consider the room size when figuring out how many receptacles you want to put on a circuit.

Yeah agreed just my way of comparing the spacing requirements (210.52) with the residential branch circuit load density requirement (210.11 -> 220.10)
the max receptacles on a residential branch circuit is your user name @infinity
When wiring a dwelling the NEC regulates load density per SQFT, not # of receptacles.
The area size is a consideration the installer needs to be aware of:
The 15A 120V circuit in a dwelling can serve no more than 600 SQFT of area.
600 SQFT X 3VA = 1800VA.