Utilization equipment
- Thread starter elecold
- Start date
- Status
IMO:
Window A/C will be 50% utilization equipment.
Portable table saw, chop saw ... would be 80% utilization equipment.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
You're asking about fastened in place versus not fastened in place?
elecold
Member
"15- and 20-Ampere Branch Circuits. A 15- or 20-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply lighting units, other utilization equipment, or a combination of both. The rating of any one cord- and plug-connected utilization equipment shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating. The total rating of utilization equipment fastened in place shall not exceed 50 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating where lighting units, cord-and plug-connected utilization equipment not fastened"
I'm looking for real world scenario where I would encounter the 50 and 80 percent rule. Thanks for your help
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
80% rule would be a table saw, window a/c, microwave, sump pump.
The 50% rule could be a garage door opener, dishwasher, disposal, etc
You would not consider a window A/C a fastened in appliance?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I could argue that either way. I have seen people open a window and stick the unit in then close the window.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
50% rule - bathroom ventilation fan - typically less then 50% of a 15 amp branch circuit - rule doesn't apply here
Now put a vent fan with heater in there - and you usually are more then 50% of a 20 amp branch circuit - can typically only put other non cord and plug connected loads on that circuit.
Another one would be a general purpose multioutlet circuit and you wanted to plug a fixed in place sump pump into that circuit, the pump can't be more then 50% of the circuit rating - so 7.5 amps for a 15 amp circuit or 10 amps for a 20 amp circuit.
80% rule is a little harder to come up with specific application that isn't temporary in nature. If you are going to bring in power tools to remodel a room are you going to run a temporary circuit to avoid violating the 80% rule or do you just learn what can't be run at the same time for this temporary condition?
A shop might be a place to use the 80% rule - but it must be equipment not fastened in place for the 80% to apply. If you have equipment that is rated at 80% of the circuit and it always gets plugged into the same receptacle - chances are you run an individual circuit to a single receptacle for that equipment anyway - in which case 210.22 applies instead of 210.23.
- Status