Residential Code 240-41

[Robert Coe]

Looking at the current NEC code 240-41 I have a major concern. I just bought a new 3,200 square foot home. It is currently being built. I inspected it before drywall and found that the electrical contractor wired all the 15-amp devises on six circuits. When I checked what is wired on a 15-amp circuit they have (QTY-18) duplex outlets plus about twenty light fixtures. When I complained about the wiring method I was told that this is acceptable per the NEC code 240-41. I find this unacceptable. I want to know if this is correct. Because I just bid on a eleven thousand square foot custom home and if I apply this code to that house I could wire it using just (QTY-18) 15-amp circuits. If I do that I would have about 30 outlets and over 25 lights per circuits. I was on the understanding that outlets should be calculated at 180VA per outlet. Please clarify. I ask this because based on this code alone 240-41 there's no limit on how many outlets and lights I could per code on a single 15-amp circuit. Can you let me know if I'm missing something??? If not and this is the governing code shouldn't this code be reviewed and changed?

 

[infinity]

What code cycle are you quoting? 240-41 is the nomenclature from over 25 years ago. For a dwelling the number of general purpose lighting and receptacle circuits is determined by calculation using 3va/sq ft. You do not use 180va per receptacle for a single family dwelling.

Please update your profile to include your occupation.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[roger]

It is and was legal and there was an old TV show that covered it. Do a search for Green Acres electrical circuits.

 

[roger]

BTW, since it's under construction this will be the time to have it changed but there will be a change order cost.

 

[retirede]

Sounds like a Lennar home. They do everything in a minimalist fashion to keep costs low.

 

[tortuga]

Looking at the current NEC code 240-41 I have a major concern. I just bought a new 3,200 square foot home. It is currently being built. I inspected it before drywall and found that the electrical contractor wired all the 15-amp devises on six circuits.

15A * 120V - 1800VA.
Code minimum number of circuits is 3200 sqft X 3VA per sqft = 9600VA / 1800VA = round up to 6 circuits

When I checked what is wired on a 15-amp circuit they have (QTY-18) duplex outlets plus about twenty light fixtures. When I complained about the wiring method I was told that this is acceptable per the NEC code 240-41. I find this unacceptable. I want to know if this is correct.

The calculated load is 3VA per square foot, so
1800 VA / 3VA = 600 SQFT
So as long as the branch circuit in question serves no more than 600 sqft of the dwelling unit, then it meets code minimum.
Also you might check if any of those 18 receptacles are intended for a fixed appliance,
or if they serve a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or garage.

Because I just bid on a eleven thousand square foot custom home and if I apply this code to that house I could wire it using just (QTY-18) 15-amp circuits. If I do that I would have about 30 outlets and over 25 lights per circuits.

You would round up to the next whole number for minimum number of circuits
11000 * 3VA = 33000 / 1800 = 19 circuits minimum
You certainly can require more than code minimum in the bid specifications.
Cheers

 

[nizak]

Sounds like a Lennar home. They do everything in a minimalist fashion to keep costs low.

Several contractors around here wire in the same manner.

I’ve gone behind Contractors who have wired entire second floors in new construction with (2) 15A circuits. All bathrooms receptacles on (1) 20A circuit with GFCI located at the start of the run and supplying 5-6 outlets.


3-4 bedrooms, all lighting , bonus room and bath lighting and exhaust fans on the (2) circuits.

One home I remember went for at least 5 years without tripping a breaker.

Problem eventually surfaced when the owner started using a clothes steamer in their master bedroom.

Total length of those circuits are quite long.

 

[Electromatic]

IMHO, this is another reason to scorn AFCI. Because of the cost of AFCI breakers and the ever-expanding areas that require arc fault protection, wiring is installed so as to have as few circuits as possible.

 

[tortuga]

IMHO, this is another reason to scorn AFCI. Because of the cost of AFCI breakers and the ever-expanding areas that require arc fault protection, wiring is installed so as to have as few circuits as possible.

It could get interesting in the 2026 NEC as they have reduced the 3VA to 2VA per square foot.
So under the 2026 NEC the 3600 SQFT house could go down from 6 circuits minimum to 4.

When I checked what is wired on a 15-amp circuit they have (QTY-18) duplex outlets plus about twenty light fixtures.

Technically when I read 220.41 literally, and forget how its enforced by inspectors it only provides the calculated load of the lighting outlets connected to the first wall switch in a room. Any lighting controlled by switches after the first is not included and some outdoor lights are not included. [NEC 210.70]
So if a 'contract says code minimum', and you have more than one wall switch in a room then the load from those lights connected to the additional switches gets calculated separately.