# of receptacles on 1-15a circuit in dwelling

[jdixon]

I was always told working in the trade 10 rec on 15a and 13 rec on 20a when wiring a dwelling. lighting loads determined by type and draw of lighting being installed. I have a contractor stating 220.14 J and has installed 12 rec, 8 can lights and a porcelain socket on 1-15a circuit. and has 4 total 15a circuits for all lighting and receptacle loads in the house except for 20a required circuits. this seems like the 15a circuits will be overloaded. is he correct?

 

[LarryFine]

There is a difference between receptacle load allowances for load calculations, and actual installations.

Added: Note the title of Article 220.

Some circuits should have only one receptacle outlet. The electrician should know how to allocate circuits.

Many here, including myself, believe that there is no NEC limit to the quantity of receptacles on a circuit.

 

[infinity]

For dwellings there are no limits for the number of receptacles on a circuit. The load calculation will just tell you the number of circuits.

 

[mtnelect]

From Electrical Wiring 13 th Edition.

 

[tom baker]

Largest loads are in the kitchen. With LED lights there is very little lighting load.
As mentioned for dwelling units there is no limit to recps (except for required 20 A ckts) per the code, as they are included in the 3 va/sf

 

[LarryFine]

From Electrical Wiring 13 th Edition.

That's fine, but again, that's for load calculations, not for actual circuit wiring layout.

I would likely put fewer receptacles than 10/13 on most circuits, but by design, not code.

 

[mtnelect]

That's fine, but again, that's for load calculations, not for actual circuit wiring layout.

I would likely put fewer receptacles than 10/13 on most circuits, but by design, not code.

I agree, the code is the starting point and being conservative is the best approach.

 

[jdixon]

Thank You still believe its poor design but allowable

 

[Buck Parrish]

I was always told working in the trade 10 rec on 15a and 13 rec on 20a when wiring a dwelling. lighting loads determined by type and draw of lighting being installed. I have a contractor stating 220.14 J and has installed 12 rec, 8 can lights and a porcelain socket on 1-15a circuit. and has 4 total 15a circuits for all lighting and receptacle loads in the house except for 20a required circuits. this seems like the 15a circuits will be overloaded. is he correct?

In the old days those 8 can lights would usually have been pulling a minimum of 480 watts. Now a days those same can lights are usually about 12 watts each that's a total of 96 watts. I would be comfortable with adding them to the circuit you described.

. As far as the amount of circuits, we would need to know the sq footage of the home. LED's have revolutionized the industry.
Probably the most common problem will come from vacuums.
We use a 20 amp circuit in or around the hall and entrance to the living room where we can try to predict where a vacuum may be plugged in.