Receptacles per circuit?

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Joseph Alexander

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OK, I need an argument settled. I tell my yourneymen that when we design an electrical job I only want 10 recpts on a 15amp circuit and no more that 13 on a 20amp circuit. I maintain that this is code (quasi-code anyway since it seems to be in doubt) it is in the 2002 NEC-H 220.3(B)9 and exhibit 220.4. They say their other masters allowed them to put as many as 20 on a circuit. What's the general consensus?
 
15A=1800VA/180=10 - 20A=2400VA/180=13.3333333~
220.3(9) Receptacle Outlets. Except as covered in 220.3(B)(10), receptacle outlets shall be computed at not less than 180 volt-amperes for each single or for each multiple receptacle on one yoke. A single piece of equipment consisting of a multiple receptacle comprised of four or more receptacles shall be computed at not less than 90 volt-amperes per receptacle.
This provision shall not be applicable to the receptacle outlets specified in 210.11(C)(1) and (2).
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Dwellings see 220.3(10) but agree, going too far with that leads to trouble.....
 
Joseph Alexander said:
OK, I need an argument settled. I tell my yourneymen that when we design an electrical job I only want 10 recpts on a 15amp circuit and no more that 13 on a 20amp circuit. I maintain that this is code (quasi-code anyway since it seems to be in doubt) it is in the 2002 NEC-H 220.3(B)9 and exhibit 220.4. They say their other masters allowed them to put as many as 20 on a circuit. What's the general consensus?
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You must have worked with my boss, ( if talking residential ) its based on 3watts per sq ft. I laughed at my boss when he started counting outlets in a bedroom wondering if he should put the hall outlet on with them... :) o'well, I don't know everything either...
 
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JohnJ0906 said:
It might be legal in residential, but bad practice.
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John, why would it be a bad practice? It would certainly be better than a homeowner running 16 gauge extension cords everywhere to get to everything.

IMO, 99% of residential receptacle circuits (excluding SA's, bathrooms, and laundry) with 10 receptacles are probably not loaded to more than 2 or 3 amps at peaks times

Roger
 
roger said:
John, why would it be a bad practice? It would certainly be better than a homeowner running 16 gauge extension cords everywhere to get to everything.

IMO, 99% of residential receptacle circuits (excluding SA's, bathrooms, and laundry) with 10 receptacles are probably not loaded to more than 2 or 3 amps at peaks times

Roger
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Your generous at 2-3 amps, all I have in my bedroom is a alarm clock.. :)
 
roger said:
John, why would it be a bad practice? It would certainly be better than a homeowner running 16 gauge extension cords everywhere to get to everything.

IMO, 99% of residential receptacle circuits (excluding SA's, bathrooms, and laundry) with 10 receptacles are probably not loaded to more than 2 or 3 amps at peaks times

Roger
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remember, houses have spacing requirments to avoid exactly that. The number of recepticles per circuit does nothing to alter the total # of recepticles required. I guess I've too many cases of 2-3 bedrooms on one circuit, loaded a lot more than2-3 amps.
 
JohnJ0906 said:
remember, houses have spacing requirments to avoid exactly that..
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And it doesn't always work, so why would we need extra circuits in a room just because we want to space them every 3 feet?

JohnJ0906 said:
The number of recepticles per circuit does nothing to alter the total # of recepticles required.
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Absolutely, and if each receptacle that is required only has a connected load of .25 amps what are the odds of all 60 (15 amp circuit) being completely loaded at the same time?
Roger
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These are the same circuits that window AC units get plugged into along with space heaters , dehumidifiers and vaccum cleaners alone that can pull 10 amps.

Guess I see this different than you guys , I think that whole idea of " because it's code and it says I can " is not always a good way of building things.
 
drg said:
These are the same circuits that window AC units get plugged into along with space heaters , dehumidifiers and vaccum cleaners alone that can pull 10 amps.

Guess I see this different than you guys , I think that whole idea of " because it's code and it says I can " is not always a good way of building things.
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Absolutely.
 
drg said:
These are the same circuits that window AC units get plugged into along with space heaters , dehumidifiers and vaccum cleaners alone that can pull 10 amps.

Guess I see this different than you guys , I think that whole idea of " because it's code and it says I can " is not always a good way of building things.
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nobody said we were wiring to code.... only telling what code is... thats what this forum is about CODE... CODE = MINIMUM requirements...
 
This forum is a little bit more involved than just code minimums...sometimes the discussions show its weak points and errors, and thats a good thing.

I don't always get led around by the nose by the NEC minimum requirements and think for myself on a rare occasion when I see the need to.
 
We used to have a point system of 2 points/ recep. and 1 point/ light outlet.#12 was 12 points and #14 was 10 points.Could you imagine what size panel would be required when 08 afci cycle comes into play,if that system(points) was still in effect ???? It`s hard enough keeping the AFCI breakers cool enough as it is.
 
roger said:
IMO, 99% of residential receptacle circuits (excluding SA's, bathrooms, and laundry) with 10 receptacles are probably not loaded to more than 2 or 3 amps at peaks times

Roger
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Depends on the house.... Some people are minimalist, some - like the one I am doing now have a the makings of a home office and AV showroom in every room. The fact that everything outside of 210.11(C) could be on one circuit would not cut it for them.

I try to at the very least try to think about the use of areas.
 
stickboy1375 said:
If only my alarm clock had a grounded cord I wouldent need arc fault protection...
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How do you figure that ?And what about lights? I agree many use very little but right now on master bedroom circuit 2 computers ,1 tv, dvr box ,few lights are on.Still far under 1800 watts.
 
e57 said:
Depends on the house....
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Mark, that's why I said 99%

e57 said:
I try to at the very least try to think about the use of areas.
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And knowing what the area (or circuit) is going (or may) to be used for would definitely change it from being just a general receptacle circuit, now we would address it with this knowledge in hand.

Roger
 
drg said:
This forum is a little bit more involved than just code minimums...sometimes the discussions show its weak points and errors, and thats a good thing.
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Where is the 'General Discussions' section?

What I mean is this forum IMO is set up more for code talk than discussing which method is better or worse.


I don't always get led around by the nose by the NEC minimum requirements and think for myself on a rare occasion when I see the need to.
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Many of us do that, however when I have to think for myself I like to have as much knowledge about the subject as I can get.

Knowing the code rules is just one part of the decision making process.
 
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