|
Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 11:55
| It's been a while since I wired an entire circuit in a house. What's the max number of things that can be wired into a 15-amp breaker? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 12:07
| For most of your circuits, there's no specified limit in the code. |
|
- Posted by azlighting (My Page) on Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 22:29
| There is no limit, however per code, load cannot exceed %80 of the breaker size. In this case: 12 amps |
|
| "There is no limit, however per code, load cannot exceed %80 of the breaker size. In this case: 12 amps" Since a residential receptacle has no identified load you can place as many as you want on a single circuit. Commercial locations are required to use 180 V-A per receptacle when sizing circuit capacity. |
|
| For the combination of general lighting and general use receptacles the code does limit, in a round about way, a 15amp circuit to 600 square feet of dwelling. While at the same time there would be no limit on the number of general use receptacles you could install on this circuit. This may not always be a practacle limit and could result in tripped breakers on a regular basis, but the code is only concerned with the safety of an installation. The practicality or convenience of the installation is a design issue. |
|
- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Mon, Dec 6, 10 at 12:06
| If you're alluding to the 1va/sq ft lighting load rule, you're wrong there as well. It doesn't apply to dwellings either. |
|
| Ron In light of the National Electric Code's article 220.82(B)(1) which says (33 volt-amperes/m2 or 3 volt-amperes/ft2 for general lighting and general-use receptacles. The floor area for each floor shall be calculated from the outside dimensions of the dwelling unit.) please explain how I am wrong there as well, and also enlighten me on what else I am wrong about, as I am baffled as to what you are alluding to. Thanks |
|
- Posted by ronnatalie (My Page) on Mon, Dec 6, 10 at 19:50
| Well fir st off, that's the optional section, an alternate way of computing the service size, so it doesn't universally apply. What you really want is 220.12, for load computation, but even that doesn't tell you squat about receptacles (or their branch circuits). The load calculation for the service is in 220.14 (J). |
|
| Ron Not only does 220.12 say 3va/sq. ft. for dwellings but 220.14(J) says all general-use receptacle outlets of 20-ampere rating or less are included in the general lighting calculations of 220.12. Try again?
|
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Electrical Wiring Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.