Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

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RJHartsoe1020

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I have been an electrician for ten years. A Journeyman for five of those ten. I am still running into contractors, and electricians that say I can put a max of 6 receptacles on a 20A circuit. Now, From what I understand, on a general use circuit, you can put 13.3 (180 vA / 120V = 1.5A, 20A/1.5A = 13.3, so 13) In combination loads, continuous. and noncontinuous, it is 80% of that, or 125%, which is still 10.6 or 10 receptacles. where is this 6 receptacle/outlet rule coming from, and where is it in the code? The only thing I have figured is that many electricians are not reading the "per yoke" part of the code. They are assuming that it is per single receptacle. What am I missing here?
 
Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

A general use receptacle has no dedicated load, so it doesn't get counted as continuous, that why you could use 100% capacity of the circuit. 13 for a 20A circuit maximum, but you could connect less if you want.
 
Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

First things first, in dwelling units the NEC does not limit the number of receptacles at all. Put as many as you want on a circuit.

In commercial it is as you believe 180VA per yoke or 13.3 yokes.

IMO it is very rare that a multi receptacle circuit would be considered a continuous load.

[ January 22, 2006, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

Originally posted by RJHartsoe1020:
I am still running into contractors, and electricians that say I can put a max of 6 receptacles on a 20A circuit.
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Are these contractors you are running into from Fl?

Roger
 
Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

I realize the 2005 is radically different from the '02 for Article 220. And I'm too lazy to go outside and look. So, I'll base my next statement on the '02.

The 180VA per yoke requirement is located in a Part called "Feeders & Services." How must this requirement be levied against a branch circuit?

Seems as though it could be argued that you must account for all the receptacles when designing the service and the feeder, but on the branch circuit level you could go over 13 yokes.

Somebody, straighten me out. :)
 
Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

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Re: Receptacles on 20A circuit, Commercial

Originally posted by georgestolz:


The 180VA per yoke requirement is located in a Part called "Feeders & Services." How must this requirement be levied against a branch circuit?
Click to expand...
Actually it's not. It's in a Part called "Branch Circuit Load Calculations." Part II in the 05, 220.3 in 02.
 
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